STEPHANIE CHEFAS PROJECTS
MERYL PATAKY COLORWAYS EXHIBITION CATALOG
COLORWAYS EXHIBITION DATES: OCTOBER 14TH - NOVEMBER 5TH, 2016
Stephanie Chefas Projects is delighted to present COLORWAYS, a stunning solo exhibition featuring new neon work from Oakland based artist Meryl Pataky. With previous exhibits, Pataky frequently employed text and organic elements to explore the cosmos and our place in it. COLORWAYS sees Pataky veering away from strict figurative language and delving into the realm of abstract. Drawing upon her desire to break new ground as well as fortify her devotion to light, COLORWAYS explores aesthetic through experimentation to mind-blowing effect.
While vibrant hues of blue, pink and green are present in COLORWAYS, the color white predominates. In color theory white is a collection of all colors, much like a prism, and therefore remains a constant theme in the artist's current work. "Light is how we see the world around us and the science of that is contained in these vessels harboring noble gas and electricity. Both additive and subtractive color theory are present in a neon tube", states Pataky. "Subtractive being the light, phosphor powders (when present) being the additive". In addition to a new level of attention towards hue, Patkay experiments with adding chrome block and borax crystals to the tubes in an effort to soften the neon to the background. In certain works, Pataky completely obscures the face of the neon, thereby leaving a cast light as the main viewable element. "By experimenting as much as possible with my medium, I find that I continue to see joy in the medium", says Pataky. "Right now experimentation is a huge part of my process".
Taking the scientific feel of the show even further, Pataky rejects the idea of hiding wires and power sources. Instead she chooses to exaggerate it in certain works and arrangements to demonstrate the entirety of the elements involved - similar to a painter showcasing a raw stretched canvas and its imperfect sides without a frame or a welder keeping raw welds instead of finishing them smooth.
MERYL PATAKY
Originally from South Florida, Meryl Pataky moved to San Francisco in 2002 to attend the Academy of Art University. She fell in love with the tactile nature of sculpture and pursued a BFA in the major. Meryl’s work consistently revolves around elements found on the periodic table. From silver and copper to neon, iron and carbon, Meryl creates a variety of abstract works that relate to her concept of universal connectedness. In doing so, Meryl combines technical expertise–from welding to glasswork to papermaking–with her own personal narrative, building complex pieces that invite the viewer to guess at what thoughts and experiences influenced her process.
MERYL PATAKY No. 1 neon and borax crystals ~ 13 inches $650 - SOLD
MERYL PATAKY No. 2 neon and borax crystals ~ 13 inches $650
MERYL PATAKY No. 3 neon and borax crystals ~ 13 inches $650
MERYL PATAKY No. 4 neon and borax crystals ~ 13 inches $600
MERYL PATAKY (Small Abstract) white 4500 phosphor coated glass with chrome paint ~ 20 inches $750
MERYL PATAKY (Medium Abstract) white 4500 phosphor coated glass with chrome paint ~ 24 inches $850 - SOLD
MERYL PATAKY (Large Abstract) white 4500 phosphor coated glass with chrome paint, neon ~ 36 inches $950 - SOLD
MERYL PATAKY Harmoniums horse hair, neon, glass ~ 13 inches $950
MERYL PATAKY Blue Gradient Cobalt blue phosphor, horizon blue phosphor, argon gas with mercury ~ 60 inches $350 (per set, 11 sets available)
MERYL PATAKY Rings neon and natural hair ~ 20 inches $700
MERYL PATAKY Mercury Trap glass and liquid mercury ~ 12 inches $750
MERYL PATAKY COLORWAYS To purchase artworks or for more information please contact: info@stephaniechefas.com 503.719.6945 www.stephaniechefas.com