Phantom Gallery

By Matthew Colowit

An eclectic mix of art, poetry and short fiction. Twenty years in the making. Gathered from a varied life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jun 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781663203120

Matthew Colowit

Born in the early 50s. Raised with three brothers near Pittsburgh, PA. Started writing poetry and short stories in high school. Undergraduate degree from Penn State in 70s, with BS in pre-med. Qualifed in submarines of US Navy in 70s. Ukiyo-e prints were early artistic interest. Married and divorced in 80s. MS degree from CalPoly, Pomona in late 80s, studying plant receptors. Career as a research technician, primarily working with rice and mice. Later affinities with Katharina Grosse, Alexander Calder and Frank Stella. Published first book of stories, poetry and drama in 2005 with iUniverse titled "A Wounded Echo". Retirement in 2014 allowed more energy for sculpting and writing. Not currently interested in selling.

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Copyright © 2020 Matthew Colowit.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical,

including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written

permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-6632-0311-3 (sc)

978-1-6632-0312-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020910614

iUniverse rev. date: 06/23/2020

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Phantom

Gallery

MATTHEW COLOWIT

Contents

Artist Statement

On the Spectrum

3 prism state

10 acrylic ave

a periodic intercept with pi

adumbrating laminations

antimatter doesn’t

astralopithicus acrylica

bits of knowledge ignored

Christie & Melody 1 [Pipet]

Christie and Melody 2

Christie & Melody 3

composition without

cube degree of inaccuracy

Dialog Play

diminished disruption

distracted cubes

evening contemplation, mod 1

foreshorten recapitulation

Hickory 2

Hickory 3

Hickory 4

Hickory 5

Hickory 6

Hickory 7

Hickory 8

Hickory 9

Hickory 10

Hickory 11

Hickory 12

identity ambiguity

it doesn’t have to be literature

Kandinsky study in pastels, large

lieu portrait

morning articulation

picture break

prescription 1110001111

rectangled

reentrant neurons

reflective

reticulum II r process

Richard 1

Richard 2

Richard 3

Richard 4

Richard 5

Richard 6-7

Richard 8

spheres cubed

Story 1

string theory

study in acrylic, aluminum, copper & felt

study in copper and acrylic, mod 2

study in flat felt, large

t prerogative

tensing a title

The Strawberry Tree

tidal distortions on the global isophote

Play Thing

Day Dream

trees

To believe

Meanderings

Thank you for leaving me

Wrestling Acrylic

The right space

Dementia

Drawn Toward

When we think on our

Wonder was

Divorce

John eldest of

Expressed

Seizure

Select Writing Calendar Entries

Select Sculpture Log Entries

Some Questions:

What is art?

Art’s definition depends on the artist and the observer of the art. It’s a conversation between the two.

The artist and the observer have to agree that something is being exchanged although they don’t have to agree on what is being exchanged. If the artist does not consider his work art, then it is probably not ready for a conversation. If the observer does not agree that it’s art, then you need another observer.

How many observers does it take to determine art? At least the concept of an observer.

Does art have to represent something?

Art doesn’t have to represent anything. Art is probably easier to understand if it does represent, but understanding is a different issue. The observer can also assign a representation to art that was not intended by the artist. The artist can either support, deny or ignore the assignment.

Does art have to make a statement?

Statements in art by the artist are nice but not necessary nor sufficient. If you need to make a statement

you do not necessarily need art to make it. There may be a more efficient way to make a statement.

What is the purpose of art?

Art’s purpose is to be. An individual’s purpose is to be. Looking for transparency in opaqueness is superficial.

Should I understand what I’m looking at?

Understanding is enlightenment, but do you really understand or have you merely convinced yourself that you understand. Perhaps you should translate the art you’re looking at to enjoy or enrich your viewing. If the art doesn’t enjoy or enrich, then find something else to look at.

Why acrylic?

I think I like acrylic for it’s edginess. It’s more than a line, it’s three dimensional...and it can be transparent, translucent or opaque. It has a shape and it doesn’t.

Mesh?

Everything is mesh, seen or unseen, the negative of negative space, a sort of positive role modality.

About Titles

All the artwork is a journey. The title is a signpost seen along the way. You don’t need to follow it but you can use it to get you into the journey. If you journey starts without it, ignore the title and travel your world-line.

Why

Painting and sculpture, like writing is therapy. A source of seeking...something...not there, not here. A way in or to...the moment...missing. So maybe, it’s not meant for ownership or even display...but more an expression...something... but done, a document detained...disturbed...dispatched.

On the Spectrum

                                           on the spectrum

           this course

                                   forced

                   to        deceive

           deter

           delinquent

                                                       an unsuspecting reader

                   off

           plied

                               for some to do

overdue

                               a feeling of having        to do        would undo me

reached for a pen

penmanship declining

                                                   not yet reclining

noticed

                               semblance of            schism

onto    paper

                       you go             to go                        still

    journey without

found rhythm of rhyme for a time not my own.

                   work the spasm of space            with a trace

                    wait

        a new line

Fine tuned to release yet primed for failure    barriers freeze

           melt inspiration                        calf

                       chunks    mostly submerged

drifting with a circulating current

                       errant ideas        weather        wrinkles in the text

           next line is written                write another line

another

                       worlds overwhelming                stumble

           made humble            humorlessly

           look where                            trying to see where

be

                                            don’t see

all                most    sense

                   freeze fast approaching                                        Encroaching

           fatigue                                            another line

Enjambment

                           Collision

Anti fission

                   Concision

what a mess        yet

Rev 5/13/15

Rev 10/27/15

Rev 12/14/15

Rev 2/4/16

Rev 2/14/16

Rev 3/7/16

Rev 8/11/16

Rev 1/5/17

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