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Transition - the moment between life and death - the
unanswerable and inexplicable circumstances of one’s existence.
Professional skateboarder, Andy Howell, paints
transcendental images that are yanked from the experience of his past
- desperate efforts to find meaning in the everyday wants and desire
to “understand” the incomprehensibility of death. His father’s demise
was the impetus for such an outlook. The jumpstart to not only
self-examination and discovery, but also, the absorption of the events
that are totally out of one’s control. The agony which accompanied his
father’s death, made him attempt to reconcile his emotions on the
canvas.
What is created is a visualistic energy that defies
indifference. Like death or any consuming force, his works softly
demand attention. Just as death slowly creeps over us all or blindly
consumes one, his work gets under the skin - gets into the
subconscious soul, creates an unfathomable experience. These images
pull more from experience than that of the imagination and have an
amazingly profound effect on the viewer. In these works Howell has the
ability to convince his viewer of the fact that not only are these
pieces intrinsic to his unique and individualistic experience, but
that they do exist in the sub-conscious.
The knowledge that these paintings are such a personal
expression of grief and the feelings that surround one during moments
of acceptance imbue these works with a humanistic touch that is not
only profound, they are accessible.
Howell’s roots spring from a fertile, energetic, basic
background. His talents revealed themselves at an early age, with a
penchant towards the physical. As a street skater, he pushed not only
the boundaries of the sport - he reinvented them. Never satisfied to
settle for the norm, his internal rebellious force drove him to the
heights of his sport, and have delivered him to the pinnacle of his
passion - art.
Always a trailblazer, Howell was responsible for the
creation of and successful production of such renowned companies as
New Deal Skateboards, 411 Video Magazine, Element Skateboards,
Sophisto and Girly Things Clothing (noted in 1995 as “New Clothing
Company of the Year” by Fashion Magazine) and worn by such celebrities
as Naomi Campbell and Kim Deal of “The Breeders”. In charge of
advertising, product and clothing design, marketing, public relations,
videos and distribution - he is a man of many talents. In 1999 he
founded Imagewerks Inc., which attracted such illustrious clients as
Coca Cola, Ford and Time Warner amongst many. He remains seated as
President and Creative Director.
His fine art has been featured in Vibe, Rolling Stone,
SPIN, Lodown (Berlin), The Source, FACE (UK), Time Out (NYC) and Slap.
He has shown his fine art and illustration nationally as well as
internationally in well known galleries such as Alleged Gallery,
Modart, Revolucionnes, and Compound Gallery, The Art Institute of
Atlanta and San Diego, Art Bar and Space 1026 to name a few.
Kantor Gallery will be exhibiting this collection,
entitled “THERAPY” based upon the artist’s feelings and insight. The
show debuts with artist reception August 9th from 5-10 pm. The show
runs through September 4th 2003. |
