Installation photos of Fluid Media at Jill Krutick Fine Art. Photos by Simone Kurtz.
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Exhibition: Fluid Media by Critical Watercolor
Organized by Peter Hopkins and Karen Fitzgerald
Hosted by SHIM Art Network
Exhibition Space: Jill Krutick Fine Art
September 10 – October 5 2021
Opening Reception: September 10, 2021 | 5 – 7 P.M.
Featured Artists
Elizabeth Cox
@liza.anne_art
Alison Cuomo
@alison_cuomo
Richard Estrin
@estrinrichard
Karen Fitzgerald
@kbfitzgeraldart
Ellen Hackl Fagan
@ehfaganstudio
Hannah Hardenbergh
@withmountainsinmind
Peter Hopkins
@home_artist1
Jack & Jenna X
@jackandjennax
Alan King
@alanking55
Jill Krutick
@jillkrutickfineart
Simone Kurtz
@thethirteenthour
Ellen Mandelbaum
@ellenmandelbaum
J. Steven Manolis
@jstevemanolis
Denise Manseau
@ddmanseau
Shreya Mehta
@artshreya
Paul Michael
@paulmichaelartist
Kellin Nelson
@kellin_nelson
Pearl Rosen Golden
@pearlrosengoldengallery
Ann Sgarlata
@annsgarlata
Noel Sikorski
@noel_sss
Priscilla Stadler
@priscillastudio
Malu Tan
@malutanart
Linda Tharp
@tharpstudio
Ellen Weider
@ellenmweider
Ginny Zanger
@ginnyzanger
What is “Fluid Media” and what is unique about this medium?
Fluidity is a potent contemporary theme in the way it implies change. As a physical medium, fluid paint can produce some of the most gorgeous effects. Watery tone plumes; it can produce areas with the softest of textures. The edges present in fluid media have an enormous, compelling range. In other words, fluid media produces some painterly vocabulary that cannot be gotten with any other media.
Highlights from the Opening Reception
“As a young artist, watercolor was the medium in which I learned the deepest things about painting. While the way I work with watercolor changed over the years, the practice of working with fluid media has underscored my work all my life. I created and facilitated the Spliced Connector group at Shim Art Network in 2020 – that experience has reinforced my enthusiasm for networked groups of professional artists working together to promote their work.”
“As an artist of 40 years I have come to regard the practice of watercolor with increasing respect. It can be a humbling medium. The water “tells us” where the pigment will go as much as the artist directs it themselves. It is not as malleable as paint, nor as dense. It is the very evanescence that appeals to me now. The art world needs more lightness, more air. We need things that can suggest fluidity, and openness; because the world and the art world itself are moving in this way...lighter, faster, more suggestive than insistent. I’m very eager to see the ways that the Critical Watercolor can expand as a node of creative artists from around the world engaging with each other and sharing our own ideas of this medium with each other, and our audience.”
“Watercolor is an exploratory medium which I use to develop my signature style. I am thrilled to join this talented group of artists and raise the visibility of my work through exhibitions and networking opportunities. I look forward to hosting the Critical Watercolor group at my studio/gallery, Jill Krutick Fine Art, this fall of 2021. I have been passionate about painting all my life and have dedicated the past dozen years to it full time.”
Featured Works
Curatorial Statement
Fluidity is a potent contemporary theme: it implies change when it is used as a descriptive term. As a physical medium, fluid paint can produce some of the most gorgeous effects. Watery tones plume, and bloom similar to the magic of smoke curling in the air. It can also produce areas with the softest of textures. The edges present in fluid media have an enormous, compelling range. In other words, fluid media produces some painterly vocabulary that cannot be gotten with any other media. In many ways, fluid media encapsulates the utterly dynamic physical qualities of flow, and mirrors the dynamism present in our current cultural epoch.
Many contemporary artists use fluid media. This contemporary work differs from a more traditional approach to watercolor, and is more broadly inclusive. Alcohol ink, gouache, watercolor, fluid acrylic paint, mica: all of these are present under the fluid media umbrella. The group spotlights new approaches to media, not only in the way fluid media is incorporated with other media, but also for the ways these artists are using it as a stand-alone material. The idea of something being fluid is an essential trait in the ongoing development of the visual language. It's critical to the power of this language in expressing emergent ideas as well as uncovering new voices.
The broad range of aesthetic vocabularies present within this group of artists is another testament to the critical nature of this new group. We are proud of this understanding: any superiority of any particular approach to crafting an individual voice with an individual visual vocabulary is quickly subsumed by the qualitative insistence of diversity present in the group. We think this mirrors our industry at large; we believe this is critical to contemporary artwork.
-Karen Fitzgerald
About Jill Krutick Fine Art
Jill Krutick Fine Art is a working artist studio and fine art gallery conveniently located in Mamaroneck, NY. Run by gallerist and fine artist Jill Krutick, the gallery showcases both emerging and established artists. Opened in 2018 as Jill Krutick's gallery-styled artist studio, the modern space now also features highly curated group artist exhibitions. Jill Krutick is also a member of the Critical Watercolor group. For more information, visit jillkrutickfineart.com or @jillkrutickfineart on Instagram.
About SHIM Art Network and Peter Hopkins
Peter Hopkins is a co-facilitator of the Critical Watercolor group and co-founded the SHIM Art Network in 2015, the world’s first integrated artist network. SHIM Art Network is an arts exhibition service company that fills the gaps in the art world, providing essential digital and analog infrastructure and resources to artists, curators, galleries, universities, and other organizations through our Exhibitor Groups. Via membership in a SHIM Exhibitor Group, artists can access durable and sustainable online visibility via SHIM’s platform on Artsy.net and invitations from their Exhibitor Group to show their work in analog exhibitions hosted by SHIM in partnership with galleries, pop-up spaces, and art fairs around the world. For more information, visit shhhim.com or @shimartnetwork on Instagram.
About Karen Fitzgerald
Karen Fitzgerald is a co-facilitator of the Critical Watercolor group. She has been dedicated to fluid media painting all her life. As a young artist, watercolor taught her the deepest things about painting. While her work with watercolor changed over the years, the practice of working with fluid media has underscored her work all her life. Karen Fitzgerald created and facilitated the Spliced Connector group at Shim Art Network in 2020 — reinforcing her enthusiasm for networked groups of professional artists working together to promote their work. For more information, visit fitzgeraldart.com or @kbfitzgeraldart on Instagram.
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