Chicago Artists Coalition is pleased to present Buoyant Surface, a solo exhibition by BOLT Artist-in-Residence, Jean Alexander Frater.

Raw canvas is the background of the under-painting of the over-painting. Cotton weave is covered and undone and redone. Doubled material increases weight; concealed color seeps to the surface.

I use my whole body to flatten the canvas against the wall. Stretch tall and wide to fix the edges, pressing out the wrinkles. Filling my brush with paint and applying the first coat.

Another Coat, Over Another

Ripping quickly, pressing my body against the canvas, guiding the tear. The rip is loud and sharp.

The under-color comes through the cracks; the raw canvas is the line.

Holding the wooden square frame at a diagonal with outstretched arms.

Over Under, Under Over

Paint cracks and the sharp edges cut my hand. Fabric softens as each woven gesture repeats, repeats and repeats.

Pulling it tight. It snags. It sags. Light bounces off the surface.

THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

PLEASE NOTE THAT The exhibition OPENS in CAC's new location at 2130 W. Fulton St.

ARTIST BIO

Jean Alexander Frater experiments with the materials inherent to painting and then integrates other histories, traditions and language into this form. Jean was a 2017-18 Chicago Artists Coalition BOLT resident, received an MFA from School of the Art Institute in Chicago, and a BA in Philosophy from University of Dayton. Jean's work has been shown internationally in venues such as the Wexner Center for Arts, Columbus; El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe; Images Festival, Toronto; Possible Project Space, Brooklyn; Ben-Gurion airport,Tel Aviv; Kulturhuset, Stockholm; THE MISSION Gallery, Chicago; Transmitter Gallery, Brooklyn and Guest Spot @ The Reinstitute, Baltimore.