Art wrap

Whirls and worlds at the Ralls Collection

By John Blee

December 2009

Untitled #1, 2009 Mixed media on canvas 33” diameter round, framed

James F. Dicke II is showing his recent paintings at the Ralls Collection (1516 31st St., Wed. — Sat. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Dicke’s work has a vast spatial reference that comes from its frequent use of the tondo, recalling the views of our own Earth as seen from space.
 
Dicke writes, “The artwork I find interesting, and the art I try to make engages interest and tries to stop the viewer for a closer look. A certain element of ambiguity and beauty should address the senses. Is the image abstract or representational? Is it a view through a microscope or a view of space spanning millions of miles?” It is precisely this aspect of spatial ambiguity that challenges the viewer at once.
 
There is a beauty of presentation in the works where the actual manipulation of paint rests appealingly on the canvas. There is quite a bit of tactility in the layering of paint that is achieved through a kind of action painting. I can only deduce that the paint is laid down and then through application of force it is whirled into place. The artist states, “in a matter of the physical painting itself, I hope the technique can be interesting and awaken a sense of questioning fascination.”
 
Dicke’s accomplishment is to make the works actually come to some kind of compositional rest. They rely on improvisation and there is an applied formula, but each one has a different color relationship. Some are darker and others are lighter. With some paintings there is an evocation of green recalling evergreen trees in a forest, as in “Untitled #2.” In several works the blue, when it is bright or deep, recalls space or the oceans. Dicke’s works certainly display positivist naturalism.
 
Certain of the works in the exhibition have a kind of sweetness and calm as found in “Untitled #40” and “Untitled #31.” “Untitled #52” jumps and is lively, while “Untitled #35” presents a bouquet of roses in its blotting. There is a kind of oriental beauty to “Untitled #34” and more nuance is evident.
 
In Dicke’s work there is much more finesse in detail than is evident in reproductions of the work. For all the swirling of paint there is a pictorial quiet.

Marsha Ralls relates, “I held Jim’s first exhibition in 1997 which was inspired by images from the Hubble space telescope. This new body of work is explosive with movement and color. My energy is fully engaged in the expansion and awareness of the visual arts ... next month we celebrate 19 years in business.” The exhibit runs through Feb. 27.