GREG MILLERLAND LOVE AT FIRST SITE
WILLIAM TURNER GALLERY BERGAMOT STATION ARTS CENTER 2525 MICHIGAN AVE., E-1 SANTA MONICA, CA 90404 P 310-453-0909 F 310-453-0908 www.williamturnergallery.com
LOVE AT FIRST SITE Greg Miller’s paintings make me aware of time. And of some of the various ways that time can affect the experience of art. And the content of art. All art takes time to make, of course, but with some – like that of Minimalists Brice Marden and John McCracken, two Miller faves, as it happens – a sense of the time that has gone into the making can actually become a palpable part of the work. So it is with Miller. Then there’s your time, the viewing time, because Miller’s paintings are not the retinal equivalent of Easy Listening. Think of such painstaking picturemakers as Hieronymous Bosch who did not make images you get in one go but stuff that requires a degree of all-over scrutiny before they deliver their charge. Miller‘s work requires that degree of attention too. But there’s quite another quality of time in Miller’s work: Historic time. And it is when he channels this that Miller is at his most American. Or – let’s zoom in closer here – Western American. And I write this as somebody slightly familiar with West Texas, the Texas of the cattlemen, not the oilmen, and extremely familiar with California. And of how real a presence history is in the American West. This seems especially striking to somebody who grew up a Londoner. London is not exactly short of history but London natives contrive to ignore it almost entirely, even or particularly during such significant events as Golden Jubilees. Like the Tower of London, history generally is for the tourist industry. Indeed a once hugely popular book of humor, 1066 And All That, was built around the notion that 1066 and 55 BC were the only two dates that Brits remembered. Now both book and dates have mostly been forgotten too. Not so, the American West where I have sometimes been startled to find how in your face history can be. As when a guy observed to me that his great-uncle had been shot by Native Americans, and that the arrowhead was in the Cowboy Hall of Fame – this was in West Texas – or when I found myself – and this was in Arizona – being driven through an all-wood town, now inhabited by paleo-hippies, themselves relicts of times fairly long-gone. It becomes unsurprising to hear that such-and-such a formerly famous desperado had spent his last years trying to score parts in the first cowboy movies. This is familiar terrain to Greg Miller.
“People came from all over the world for the California Gold Rush. There was a great mix, lots of Chinese,” he says. “I grew up part-time on an old ranch in Truckee, California, and part-time in Sacramento. I grew up during the 60s. The old Beatniks were still around.” He grew up, feeding on such Lost Times. “I drive around the Western United States. From Marfa, Texas, to New Mexico. The old Badlands. And from that I take the material I work with.“ That is why this show is called Four Corners. “There was this outlaw place in South West Texas where these roads meet up,” Miller says. “It was kind of based on the old Santa Fe trail. When people came from the East they would decide where to go. And it was kind of like with the Blues where that Robert Johnson challenged the Devil. It was here the roads made four corners which I kind of liked. Painting them is an interesting metaphor for a bunch of things.” The way Miller has painted them is appropriate too. “I didn’t go back to Venice and Florence and entrench myself in ancient frescos. I haven’t even been to Europe yet. I’m over here. And that is what my work talks about.” Miller does immerse himself in frescoes and they are old, but not precisely ancient. As much as the early Pop artists, as deeply as Roy Lichtenstein, Jim Rosenquist and Andy Warhol, he is enthralled by posters. But American Pop was, by and large, cool, hard-edged. Yes, there were elements of nostalgia, inescapably, as with any form that uses mass-media and ephemera as material, but that nostalgia was cut by irony of industrial strength. What Miller is doing with this material is wholly different. When I would see these posters it was like I was looking at an Italian fresco,” Miller says. “And there’s a history behind each poster on the wall. And so I would take that and put it into my work. I could see a sense of history and time. Abstract time. I could see that we’re kind of visitors because we’re not of that time necessarily but I’m recording it and I’m painting it. And that’s where the energy comes from.” He paused, added. “You drive by on a trip and look at that stuff and it goes by so fast. It’s sort of like I’m driving in a car and there are ghosts flying by my window.” - Anthony Haden Guest
SKYROOM, 48” x 48”, 2013, Acrylic, Collage, Resin on Canvas
DESTINY, 48” x 60”, Acrylic, Collage, Resin on Canvas
NORMS, 48” x 60”, 2013, Acrylic, Collage, Resin on Canvas
PLAY, 60” x 48”, 2013, Acrylic, Collage, Resin on Canvas
BURT’S POOL, 48” x 60”, 2013, Acrylic, Collage, Resin on Canvas
GENT, 48” x 48”, 2013, Acrylic, Collage, Resin on Canvas
SUNSET STRIP, 48” x 48”, 2013, LA, Acrylic, Collage, Resin on Canvas
CITY OF LITTLE MOTORS #1; durst lambda print, film, aluminum; 40” (H) x 360” (W); Singapore, 2012
COLA, 45” x 70”, 2013, Acrylic, Collage, Resin on Canvas
BEL AIR, 45” x 70”, 2013, Acrylic, Collage, Resin on Canvas
Fabulous Las Vegas, 70” x 45”, 2012, Acrylic, Collage, Resin on Canvas
BLONDE PHANTOM, 70” x 45”, 2012, Acrylic, Collage, Resin on Canvas
WINNER TAKE ALL, 48” x 60”, 2012, Acrylic, Collage, Resin on Canvas
BUNNY LEFT SIDE, 48” x 48”, 2012, Acrylic, Collage, Resin on Canvas
DOUBLE LUCKY, 25” x 65”, 2012, Acrylic, Collage, Resin on Canvas
FOUR PALMS, 45”x70”, Acrylic, Collage, Resin on Canvas
GREG MILLER Born: 1951. Sacramento, CA Master of Arts, San Jose State University. San Jose, CA San Francisco Art Institute. San Francisco, CA UCLA, Graduate School. Los Angeles, CA SELECTED CORPORATE COLLECTIONS Pixar Animation Studios, Emeryville, CA W Hotel, San Diego Charles Saatchi London, England Playboy Enterprises, Los Angeles, CA ARATEX Inc. San Francisco, CA ODEDEX Corporation, Anaheim, CA Community Arts Inc. San Francisco, CA Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation AmFAR. Los Angeles, CA San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, CA FAGO Foundation, Los Angeles, CA Robert Pecota Winery, Napa, CA Interscope Records, Los Angeles, CA Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. Kansas City, MI. MUSEUMS Napa Valley Museum, Napa, CA Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art Pepperdine University, CA Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA Colorado Springs Fine Art Center, Colorado Springs, CO Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans, LA Carnegie Art Museum, Oxnard, CA Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA Newport Harbor At Museum, Newport Beach, CA Montalvo Center for the Arts, Saratoga, CA SELECTED PRIVATE COLLECTIONS Sharon Stone Stephen Reiss Jane Witter Len Jacoby Jennifer & Gianluca Galtrucco Eddie Irvine Nancy Sheffner Milton Verret Ann Janss Staci & Bruce Kirschbaum Sue & William Brandt Sean Mays Barbara & Sam Masket Toby Maguire Herb Bloch Marg Helgenberger Kyle Ransford Jessica Alba Sheryle Ulyate Judy Slutzky Debbie & Dave Schneider
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS 2012 LA Art Show Caldwell Snyder Gallery; San Francisco, CA London Art Fair Scream Gallery; London, UK Group Exhibition PEVETO; Houston, TX Solo Exhibition Caldwell Snyder Gallery; San Francisco, CA Group Exhibition Kevin Barry Fine Art Assoc.; Las Vegas, NV 2 0 11 Solo Exhibition Caldwell Snyder Gallery; San Francisco, CA Perez Hiltons SXSW Event Austin, TX Group Exhibition Deborah Page Projects, Austin, TX Auction Bonhams UK - Urban Art LA Art Show Los Angeles Art Show; Los Angeles, CA 2 0 10 Art Miami, Art Basel; Miami, FL Solo Exhibition Campton Gallery; New York, NY Group Exhibition Under the Influence of Fashion and Finance. Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art: Santa Monica, CA Television Giada at Home: Paint & Party. Food Network Episode 2010#2.29. Malibu, CA Solo Exhibition The Get Go. William Turner Gallery: Santa Monica, CA San Francisco Fine Art Fair: Fort Mason, CA Solo Exhibition Caldwell Snyder Gallery; San Francisco, CA Solo Exhibition Marfa Film Festival. Deborah Page Projects: Marfa, TX Auction Christie’s Fine Art Auctions: Beverly Hills, CA Group Exhibition People’s Gallery Exhibition. Austin City Hall; Austin, TX Solo Exhibition Artspace 111; Ft. Worth, TX LA Art Show. Los Angeles Art Show; Los Angeles, CA 2009 Art Miami. Art Basel; Miami, FL Solo Exhibition Campton Gallery; New York, NY Solo Exhibition Recent Paintings. William Turner Gallery; Santa Monica, CA Solo Exhibition Route 99. Caldwell Snyder Gallery; San Francisco, CA Group Exhibition Signs of the Nearly Actual. William Turner Gallery; Santa Monica, CA Group Exhibition Material Boundaries. Spazio Interiors & Deborah Page Projects; Austin, TX Group Exhibition Art Show LA. Caldwell Snyder Gallery; Los Angeles, CA 2008 Bridge Art Fair. Art Basel; Miami, FL Red Dot Art Fair. Art Basel; Miami, FL Solo Exhibition The Unforseen. Spazio Interiors; Austin, TX Group Exhibition Susquehanna Art Museum; Harrisburg, PA Solo Exhibition Recent Paintings. Campton Gallery, New York, NY Solo Exhibition Caldwell Snyder Gallery; San Francisco, CA Solo Exhibition Napa Valley Museum; Yountville, CA
2003 Solo Exhibition William Turner Gallery; Los Angeles, CA Group Exhibition Elaine Baker Gallery; Boca Raton, FL Solo Exhibition Kidder-Smith Gallery; Boston, MA Group Exhibition Bucheon Gallery; San Francisco, CA 2002 Group Exhibition Elaine Baker Gallery; Boca Raton, FL Solo Exhibition Kidder-Smith Gallery; Boston, MA Year in Installation Hum Music Design; Venice, CA Solo Exhibition Imago Galleries; Palm Desert, CA 2001 Solo Exhibition So Hyun Gallery; New York, NY Solo Exhibition William Turner Gallery; Venice, CA 2000 Solo Exhibition Bucheon Gallery; San Francisco, CA Solo Exhibition “Kidnapping”, No Prisoners; Los Angeles, CA 1999 Film Exhibition “The Kidnapping” 35 mm. 15 minute color short. Dolby Surround Sound Robert Wagner, Lisa Zane, Chris Reed, Shawn Woods Solo Exhibition Lejneiks Fine Art; San Francisco, CA 1998 Group Exhibition Lejneiks Fine Art; San Francisco, CA Group Exhibition Buschlen Mowatt Gallery; Vancouver, Canada 1997 Solo Exhibition Peter Blake Gallery; Laguna Beach, CA Solo Exhibition Buschlen Mowatt Gallery; Vancouver, Canada Group Exhibition Auberge du Soleil; St. Helena, CA Group Exhibition Bucheon Gallery; San Francisco, CA 1996 Solo Exhibition Slutzky Sheffner Contemporary Art; Newport Beach, CA Solo Exhibition Barney’s New York. Window Installation. Los Angeles, CA Solo Exhibition Barney’s New York. Window Installation. New York, NY Group Exhibition Laguna Art Museum; Laguna Beach, CA 1995 Solo Exhibition The Viper Room. William Turner Gallery; Venice, CA Solo Exhibition Objects. Slutzky Sheffner Contemporary Art; Newport Beach, CA Group Exhibition Newport Harbor Art Museum; Newport Beach, CA Group Exhibition Triton Art Fair; San Francisco, CA Group Exhibition Pated Paper. Louis Stern Gallery; Los Angeles, CA Group Exhibition American Collage. William Turner Gallery; Venice, CA 1994 ART LA ‘94 William Turner Gallery; Los Angeles, CA Solo Exhibition Ted Mendenhal Gallery; Pasadena, CA Solo Exhibition William Turner Gallery; Venice, CA
Group Exhibition Night of the Masque. Newport Harbor Art Museum; Newport Beach, CA 1993 ART LA ‘93 William Turner Gallery; Los Angeles, CA Solo Exhibition William Turner Gallery; Venice, CA Solo Exhibition Brandt Schneider Contemporary Art; Napa, CA Group Exhibition Project for AmFAR; New York, NY Group Exhibition Gallery 57; San Francisco, CA 1992 ART LA ‘92 William Turner Gallery; Los Angeles, CA Solo Exhibition American Journals. William Turner Gallery; Venice, CA Group Exhibition Chicago International Art Exposition; Chicago, IL Group Exhibition William Turner Gallery; Chicago, IL Group Exhibition Object/Image Found. TransAmerican Gallery; Los Angeles, CA 1991 ART LA ‘91 William Turner Gallery; Los Angeles, CA Solo Exhibition Life Series. William Turner Gallery; Venice, CA Group Exhibition Art London ‘91. William Turner Gallery; London, England 1986 Group Exhibition Newport Harbor Art Museum; Newport Beach, CA Group Exhibition Imagination Celebration; The Kennedy Center Installation, NY 1985 Group Exhibition Newport Harbor Art Museum; Newport Beach, CA 1983 Group Exhibition Book Exhibitions. Palo Alto Cultural Center; Palo Alto, CA 1981 Group Exhibition Eaton Schoen Gallery; San Francisco, CA Group Exhibition George Eastman House; Rochester, NY Group Exhibition Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery; Los Angeles, CA 1980 Group Exhibition The Works Gallery; Long Beach, CA 1979 Group Exhibition Artworks and Bookworks. LICA; Los Angeles, CA Group Exhibition Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery; Los Angeles, CA Group Exhibition Judaism Through the Arts. West Valley College; Los Angeles, CA Group Exhibition Glass: Outdoor Installations in City Parks; San Jose, CA 1977 Group Exhibition Artist Stories. Libra Gallery; Claremont, CA Group Exhibition Bookworks. Mills College; Hayward, CA Group Exhibition Union Gallery; San Jose, CA Group Exhibition La Mamelle; San Francisco, CA 1975 Group Exhibition Montalvo Center for the Arts; Saratoga, CA Group Exhibition Three People. Gallery One; San Jose, CA Group Exhibition Investigations. John White Performance Gallery; San Jose, CA
AWARDS 1981 National Endowment for the Arts: Publication Grant. 1980 National Endowment for the Arts: Exhibition Grant. 1978 National Endowment for the Arts: Publication Grant. PUBLICATIONS California Dreaming. Angeleno Magazine. The Next Wave. Men’s Vogue. Article by Mark Rozzo Gregory Miller. Article by Donald Kuspit The Printed Word. Catalogue. Stephen Moore - editor Bookworks. Catalogue. Artist Catalogue. Jerry McAllister - editor Another Room. Lucy Childs - editor Artworks and Bookworks. Judith Hoffberg and Joan Hugo - editors The Dumb Ox. James Hugunn and Theron Kelly - editors BIBLIOGRAPHY Greg Miller “Greg Miller: The Get Go” Retrospective Art Book. 2010 Giada DeLaurentis “Giada at Home: Paint & Party” TV Episode 2010 #2.29) Aired: July 17, 2010 Nicole Villalpando “Mt. Bonnell Home Floats Off Edge.” Austin American Statesman. January 2, 2010 Michael B. Dougherty “Art Attack” Vegas Magazine. May 2009 “Vintage Americana” American Art Collector Ben Bamsey “Greg Miller” Artwords Magazine. Spring 2009 Cate McQuaid “Going Back to Cali” The Boston Globe. February 20, 2008 David Pagel, “Art Reviews” Los Angeles Times, December 31, 1992 Arlene Shattil, “CIACE, Art Chicago A Study of Contrasts” Art Business News, June 1992 Jenny Campbell, Orange County Register, April 1986 Caalon Smith, Los Angeles Times, January 1986 Cathy Curtis, Orange Country Register, January 1986 Judy Jones, Irvine World News, December 1985 Suzanne Muchnic, “ Major and Minor” Los Angeles Times, 1981 Dorothy Burkhart, “Introductions”, San Jose Mercury, 1979 Robert MacDonald, “Images of Women”, Art Week, 1979 Herb Caen, “Censorship at the Kaiser Building” San Francisco Chronicle, 1979 Charles Sheer, “Corporations/The Arts” Oakland Tribune, 1979 Joan Hugo, “Artist Book” Art Week, 197 ;“California Artist: “Artes Visuales” October 1976 Lynn Grant, “The Printed Word” Art Week, March 1976
PROFESSIONAL 1989-1985 Claremont Graduate School of Art. Claremont, CA Associate Professor of Painting, Drawing and Sculpture Laguna College of Art & Design, Laguna Beach, CA Chair of Visual Communications Department Associate Professor of Design Associate Professor of Painting and Advanced Painting Courses DONATIONS STOP CANCER, Santa Barbara, CA AmFAR, Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA Laguna Art Museum. Laguna Beach, CA Newport Harbor Art Museum, Newport Beach, CA Venice Family Clinic, Venice, CA Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA