'Color Color' at the Cincinnati Art Museum showcases digital prints and poetry
ArtDaily.org, 12/15/2014

The Cincinnati Art Museum’s newest special feature, Color Color, showcases vibrant inkjet prints from Ohio-based artist Julian Stanczak with accompanying poetry by Harry Rand. The Color portfolio was acquired by the museum in 1994, but this is the first time this special feature has been on display in Cincinnati.

Although small in size, the art creates a big impact. Twenty of Stanczak’s framed “color experiences” are shown with Rand’s poetry in the Albert E. Heekin and Bertha E. Heekin Gallery on the museum’s second floor.

Stanczak, a previous Art Academy of Cincinnati teacher, is now a resident of Cleveland suburb Seven Hills. He embraces imaging technology to form a new definition of color in his art. His Color portfolio, completed in 1993, is an example of the early use of digital visual art and inkjet printing. Stanczak modified the printer to fit the large format and paper thickness. He used wax to suspend the colors.

Cincinnati Art Museum Curator of Prints Kristin Spangenberg organized the display. “These amazingly vibrant works let us see color in a new way. Even though the art is more than 20 years old, the special feature is a fresh combination of powerful images and words that will resonate with the museum guests who examine them,” she said.

Using brilliant color and dramatic moods, Stanczak’s inkjet prints have intricate value gradients and color juxtapositions that reflect his aesthetic vision. The accompanying poetic suite by Harry Rand creates different psychological states through a variety of voices, tenses and personae. Together, Stanczak’s perceptual art coupled with Rand’s symbolic poetry, form a totality which opens hearts and eyes.

“My primary interest is color—the energy of the different wavelengths of light in their juxtapositions. The primary drive of colors is to give birth to light, but light always changes; it is evasive. I use the energy of this flux because it offers me great plasticity of action,” said Stanczak. “To capture the metamorphoses—the continuous changing form and circumstance—is the eternal challenge and, when achieved it offers a sense of totality, order and repose. Color is abstract, universal—yet personal and private in experience.”

Stanczak immigrated to the United States in 1950 and studied with Josef Albers at Yale University, School of Art and Architecture where he received his Masters in 1956. From 1957 to 1964 he taught at the Art Academy of Cincinnati. He moved to Cleveland in 1964 to teach at the Cleveland Institute of Art, retiring in 1995.

Rand was born and raised in New York City. His poetry has been published since he was seventeen. He has been an important commentator on twentieth century art and artists through his books and catalogues.

Associated Artist

• Julian Stanczak

Associated News

• August 5, 2019
  ‘Optical Art’ to be shown at Fort Wayne Museum of Art
  Wane.com
  August 5, 2019
  Dirk Rowley
  


• April 8, 2019
  JULIAN STANCZAK
  The Lobby Gallery, 499 Park Avenue, New York
  On view through September 2019
  Reception: Tuesday, April 9, 5-7 pm
  
  


• March 26, 2019
  Rhythm, Rhythm, Everywhere
  Toledo City Paper, 03/26/2019
  Thena Cocoves
  
  


• July 28, 2018
  Unique art 'treasure hunt' spans dozens of Ohio venues
  The Blade, 07/28/2018
  Roberta Gedert
  
  


• July 12, 2018
  Cleveland Hopes to Become the Next Venice
  The Wall Street Journal, 07/12/2018
  Kelly Crow
  
  


• February 17, 2018
  Julian Stanczak
  Visual Art Source, 02/17/2018
  Amanda Malloy
  
  


• February 9, 2018
  Julian Stanczak at David Richard Gallery
  Santa Fe New Mexican
  Pasatiempo, 02/09/2018
  Michael Abatemarco
  
  


• February 8, 2018
  Love is in the Art
  Santa Fe Arts Journal, 02/08/2018
  Emily Van Cleve
  
  


• January 31, 2018
  Press Release - Julian Stanczak "Dynamic Fields"


• July 22, 2017
  FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art


• April 19, 2017
  Julian Stanczak’s Contribution to Cincinnati Art
  City Beat, 04/19/2017
  Steven Rosen
  
  


• April 11, 2017
  Julian Stanczak, Abstract Painter, Dies at 88
  New York Times, 04/11/2017
  Roberta Smith
  
  


• March 31, 2017
  Julian Stanczak on the Power of Red
  ArtInfo, 03/31/2017
  
  


• March 28, 2017
  Op Art Loses One of Its Leading Figures With Death of Julian Stanczak
  ArtNet News, 03/29/2017
  Perwana Nazif
  
  


• March 28, 2017
  Julian Stanczak, Central Figure of Op Art Movement, Dies at 88
  ArtNet News, 03/28/2017
  Alex Greenberger
  
  


• March 28, 2017
  Julian Stanczak (1928–2017)
  Artforum, 03/28/2017
  
  


• March 27, 2017
  Julian Stanczak, globally renowned Op artist based in Cleveland, has died at age 88
  Cleveland.com, 03/25/2017
  Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer
  
  


• December 16, 2015
  Julian Stanczak Op Art paintings smash local price ceiling and rocket nationally
  Cleveland.com, 12/16/2015
  Steven Litt
  
  


• January 29, 2015
  Color Color' evokes harmony between two disparate mediums
  The New Record, 01/29/2015
  Christina Drobney
  
  


• December 15, 2014
  'Color Color' at the Cincinnati Art Museum showcases digital prints and poetry
  ArtDaily.org, 12/15/2014
  
  


• March 3, 2014
  Press Release - Julian Stanczak "Lineal Pathways"


• February 23, 2014
  1969 Cleveland Arts Prize for Visual Arts
  


• April 30, 2013
  JULIAN STANCZAK
  COLOR WONDER
  Cleveland Magazine, May 2013
  
  


• April 8, 2013
  AKRON ART MUSEUM
  Line Color Illusion: 40 Years of Julian Stanczak
  Apr 13, 2013 - Nov 3, 2013
  


• October 16, 2012
  THE MARKET'S HOTTEST ARTISTS
  Bloomberg.com, 10/16/2012
  Ben Steverman
  
  


• May 1, 2012
  An Interview with Artist Julian Stanczak
  GeoForm, May 2012
  Julie Karabenick
  
  


• May 1, 2012
  An Interview with Artist Julian Stanczak
  GeoForm, May 2012
  Julie Karabenick
  
  


• December 13, 2011
  JULIAN STANCZAK: GREAT COLORIST OF THE 20TH CENTURY
  Cleveland Institute of Art, 12/13/2011
  
  


• November 6, 2011
  Cleveland Institute of Art touts its own history in shows on Robert Mangold, Julian Stanczak and Ed Mieczkowski
  Cleveland.com, 11/06/2011
  Steven Litt
  
  


• September 21, 2011
  CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART OPTICAL ART EXHIBIT A TEST FOR THE EYES
  WEWS, 09/21/2011
  
  


• August 23, 2011
  Press Release - Julian Stanczak "Tactile See Through"


• November 1, 2010
  The New Criterion review of "Julian Stanczak: Color - Grid"
  Gallery Chronicle, November 2010
  James Panero