Studio M: Paintings and Drawings by John W. Carlson
Paintings and Drawings by John W. Carlson is the featured Studio M exhibition at the Massillon Museum, from May 19 through June 25, in the Museum’s Fred F. Silk Community Room. A reception for the artist will be held on Saturday, June 10, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., concurrent with the opening of the Stark County in the Great War main gallery exhibition. The event will be free and open to everyone; no reservations will be required.
Carlson, a Lakewood, Ohio, artist, honed his vision at the Cooper School of Art in Cleveland. He is drawn to the strength of black and white and spontaneity, and his work is informed by film noir and jazz. He equates the flash of an idea for his artwork to the flash of a camera.
The artist focuses on the figure, using oil paint and charcoal on canvas and paper to explore the human condition. His exhibition is about perception and emotion and how they relate to one another.
“In these paintings and drawings I subtract or manipulate information that shapes our perception,” Carlson said. “Like memory, knowledge and emotion are contextual clues that viewers use to interpret what they see.” He presents an ambiguity—an isolated image—that forces the viewer to scrutinize the image to find resolution."
Carlson’s artwork has been included in dozens of solo, juried, and invitational exhibitions, and is held in private collections throughout the U.S. and abroad, including in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Norway, and Scotland. John W. Carlson appears courtesy of Hedge Gallery in Cleveland.
The Massillon Museum’s Studio M exhibition may be seen during regular Museum hours, Tuesday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. For more information, call the Massillon Museum at 330-833-4061, or visit massillonmuseum.org.
Studio M enhances the collaboration between the Museum and the community by showcasing the artistic talents of local, regional, and national artists. The series of five-week shows will continue throughout the year, selected by jurors from proposals submitted by artists. Guidelines and an application are available by calling the Massillon Museum at 330-833-4061 or visiting massillonmuseum.org.
The Massillon Museum receives operating support from the Ohio Arts Council and ArtsinStark.
The Massillon Museum is located at 121 Lincoln Way East (Ohio Route 172) in the heart of downtown Massillon. Free and convenient street parking is available on adjacent streets. A visit to the Massillon Museum is always free.
John W. Carlson, Beach Ball, Oil and charcoal on canvas, 2015
John W. Carlson in his studio, photographed by Bryon Miller
