UPSTATE Gallery on Main is honored to present "Engulfed," a selection of contemplative and reductivist paintings by prominent New Orleans artist, Peter Barnitz. The exhibition opens on January 10 and runs through March 4. An artist reception will take place on January 19 from 5-8 pm. Inspired by both dance and the intricate choreography of sports, Barnitz creates visually complex, deeply meditative abstractions that combine the notion of movement with an appreciation of the schematic. Delicately rendered, utilizing interwoven and playful geometric clusters, Barnitz’s paintings emphasize the passage of time, the mesh of nature, and the poise of the human spirit. "The patterns and forms created are not only a symbol of hard work and determination," says Barnitz, "but a celebration of life, art of the human hand, and exploration up-close or from afar, where the process of creation collides with a spiritual and meditative goal. I use repetition of lines and shapes to create what I regard as a peaceful gathering of energy. These patterns can be freely interpreted as the co-dependency between everything in existence, which contributes to the changing balance of life." Peter Barnitz, originally of Metairie, Louisiana, earned his BFA from Loyola University and MFA from the University of New Orleans. Barnitz is the founder of Barnitz Academy of Fine Arts, Art Director and artist-in-residence at Kenner Discovery Health and Sciences Academy, and Chairman of the Kenner Rivertown Arts Council. Barnitz’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in over 40 group and solo shows, including the 2016 Art Fields Exhibition in Lake City, SC and the 2015 Exposure Nature Collection Exhibition at the Musee du Louvre, in Paris, France. For more information on Peter Barnitz, please visit his website: www.barnitzart.blogspot.com.
