1275 Minnesota St /
Ever Gold [Projects]
Chuck Webster: SMORGASBORD
Curated by Darren Romanelli
Plants provided by Austin McManus of Public Land
Text by Duke Benadom
I’m a bit put off while writing this as I realize that health issues will prevent me from seeing the very art that’s now in my thoughts. The heart-lifting afterthought is that many others will enjoy it in my stead.
Art, as with all realms of beauty, is mostly in the eye of the beholder. Some people look upon a desert with disgust, seeing nothing but vast barrenness, while those more attuned to life look further and see flora, fauna, minerals, and a nimiety of richness in every nook and cranny. It’s there for all to admire and enjoy. Perhaps those who do not recognize that beauty is ubiquitous simply need a bit of guidance. As an example, California’s Death Valley has beauty comparable with that of Wyoming’s Yellowstone. It’s certainly not the same beauty, or even beauty of the same nature, but it’s absolute beauty nevertheless.
For his first solo exhibition at Ever Gold [Projects], Chuck Webster presents two large grids of works from a series of grayscale Ink paintings on antique handmade paper and a selection of wood and mixed-media based sculptures. These works are placed in direct conversation with a curated selection of rare cacti such as Astrophytum capricorne, Opuntia chaffeyi, Echinofossulocactus erectocentrus, and Miqueliopuntia miquelli. When an exhibition is replete with paintings, sculptures, and succulent plants, some will wonder why such an array of differences would be displayed together, while the inquisitive mind may strive to see the relevance in these various forms of wonderment and view the display with a much more enthusiastic interest.
That’s the real beauty. Each viewer will admire at least some of the cacti, or perhaps abhor the lot. Similar reactions may be shown toward the paintings and/or sculptures. Those with sufficient interest or curiosity will look at all displayed and draw comparisons of form, texture, color, beauty, interest, and a gamut of other characteristics.
The cacti in the exhibition each have their own natural beauty of form and texture. Even two plants grown from the same seed batch will show differences over time. Paintings that emanate from visions of one’s mind will vary even more. The same can be realized from sculptures… with the added benefit of three dimensions. Try viewing a painting from the back side; it’s obviously not comparable to viewing the sculptures or plants from other directions. One should peer at these forms of art from various perspectives. It’s worth the effort.