A new exhibit, Presence and Absence, is now on display at New Hampton School’s Galletly Gallery through March 7, 2020. In this exhibit of recent work, renowned local artist Tom Driscoll shares 11 large-scale acrylic and oil paintings, as well as 5 drawn studies, giving us insight into his artistic process. The public is cordially invited to a reception for the artist on Thursday, February 20, from 5:30 – 7:00 pm.
A Look Inside the Art
The works in this exhibit represent Driscoll’s recent variation from his previously predominantly abstract work to his current work that uses a recognizable reference, a “tangible point of departure upon which I can build, play and experiment…Conceptually the paintings are investigations into how contradictions in our perception of reality can and do exist simultaneously. Concurrent experiences of apparently paradoxical states of being, such as presence and absence, clarity and ambiguity depict, for me, a more accurate sense of our daily reality than a singular perception. They also represent an acknowledgment that there is poetry to be found in the mundane and unassuming experience.”
In his process, Driscoll is “interested in ideas of the physicality of mark and conveying a sense of immediacy, which function and communicate on a visceral level.” He states: “Through combinations of color and mark, I hope to create a resonance which is felt rather than conceived. The alternate integration and dissolution of space and object, thing and no-thing, is something that I find appealing and challenging to resolve within a single piece. Ideas of play, working extemporaneously and creating surprises have always been important in my working process.”
About the Artist
Tom Driscoll holds a BFA degree from Plymouth State College and an MFA degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art. He has been teaching at Plymouth State University since 1989, coordinating the painting program and teaching courses within the drawing, printmaking and foundations programs. In addition, he has offered workshops in stone lithography at a regional cooperative printmaking studio. He has served as a juror for regional competitions and has curated several exhibits, including a national encaustic show and a survey of New Hampshire painting at the turn of the 21st century. Tom leads an active studio life and has exhibited in juried competitions both regionally and nationally, winning several awards for his work.
See the exhibit
The exhibit is free and open to the public. The Galletly Gallery is located on the second floor of New Hampton School’s Moore Center. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm; Saturdays from 9 am to noon.
