a is for angle: J. T. Kirkland

Fortress (2008), Wenge wood, house paint. By J. T. Kirkland

This is a little different from my usual daily artist posts. I just went to see this and other works by Kirkland in person earlier this evening. I even got to meet the artist himself. I also met Christopher West, who runs the gallery. It's connected to the Dean Johnson gallery and located on Massachusetts Ave. in Indianapolis.

There were four of Kirkland's pieces on display for this first of two consecutive shows of his work. White paint highlights the sides and fronts on parts of the work. The dark areas consist of glossed wood with the grain visible. These are minimalist, but also a little active and even playful, as in the piece entitled "Slope", which plays a little optical game by encouraging the viewer to make a complete shape out of the white highlights around the negative space of the frame. Another piece becomes sculptural by jutting out of the wall.

I think that the work would have benefited from a bit more space in the gallery so that viewers could stand further back in order to see the work better from a distance. However, the work did reward close examination. Everything was very cleanly constructed and finished.

You can find out more about J. T. Kirkland and his artwork on his blog, http://thinkingaboutmyart.com/. These pieces will be on display at Christopher West until July 21st. On July 22nd, a second show of Kirkland's latest works will begin and runs through August 14th.