Ben Darrah
With this painting I am swaying away from the usual referential imagery that I tend to overlay on my abstract grounds. I am showing my internal debate about what is important (to me) in my work. I often vacillate about whether the stencils I use serve more as a vehicle for colour and composition, or if the referential significance holds more weight. In this work I felt an abstract swirl was all that was needed. There is a dance of line and smudge that skates across the rich ground that is very much surface while also suggesting a sense of space.
As with the “White” Exhibition, I was interested in the premise of this exhibition, especially since I often use reds. I love the glow and buzz I can get by putting different reds together, and contrasting them with flecks of green, white, and grey. I like the idea of working within the constraints of a limited palette, and exploring ways of breaking the rules – or testing the limits of the rules.
Twirl
Acrylic on polyester fabric on board, 12” x 12” $800
Darrah is a Kingston-based artist. He was born in London, England, and immigrated to Canada with his family in 1968. He grew up in Edmonton, Alberta and graduated with a BFA from the University of Alberta in 1987 and earned a Master of Fine Art at the University of Windsor in 1995. Besides maintaining a visual art practice with an exhibition record that now spans nearly 4 decades, Darrah has worked as an art dealer, curator, freelance writer, Arts Council Project Manager, and taught art at Queen’s University, St. Lawrence College, and White Mountain Academy. He is currently an elementary teacher with the Limestone District School Board and maintains a studio in Glenburnie, Ontario. His work can be found in private and public collections in North America and Europe.