Morristown Artist to Show at Zebu Forno in June

The latest art exhibit coming to , set to open June 1, will feature Morristown resident [and a graduate of Alfred University, this site's editor's alma mater] Ian George. His opening public reception, on June 2, will feature not one, not two, but four artists, from 5 to 7 p.m.

The press release is below.

A solo exhibition of paintings by contemporary mixed media artist, Ian George will be presented by ZEBU Forno in downtown Morristown.  The exhibit will open on June 1^st, 2012 and continue for the month.  A Public Reception will be held on June 2^nd from 5pm to 7pm.  Additionally, three more artists will share the opening reception.  

Inspired by the works of Alberto Giacometti, Francis Bacon, and Anselm Kiefer, Ian George is a mixed media surrealist.  His works are as likely to include toy figures, glitter, and construction materials as they are collage techniques and gloss mediums. 

George’s paintings are a three dimensional experience.  Color. Surface. Texture.  The pieces are tactile, thick, complicated. He burns them, hammers them, collages them, working them hard as he goes.  There is nothing neat or polite happening on the surface. The pieces are violated, worked, pushed, layered, and finally solved.  His pieces are a rare combination of chaos and order, of labor, expertise, and magic.

George has formally studied at Alfred University, NY, the Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston, MA, and the New York School of Visual Arts.  His background includes ten years in independent film production and ten years teaching Elementary School Art in Summit, NJ. At present, George works with designers and architects on residential and corporate spaces, including hotels, restaurants, store fronts and interiors. 

South Street in Morristown has the opportunity to showcase this significant artist via an Artist/Business collaboration at ZEBU Forno.

At the Opening Reception of his exhibition, George has invited three other artists to share their works as well.  George says, “Creating an environment of family and community is core to my artistic practice.”  Perhaps it’s also another way he keeps things over the top.

George’s mother, Jane George, Summit, will show etchings and prints.  Ian George says, she “takes things from nature and extracts them.  There’s a surreal skew on things.”  Chris and Danielle Merzatta, Mendham, take from nature too- generating a series of high design art jewelry from natural forms.  Jane George and Danielle Merzatta, though many years apart, both hold Masters in Fine Arts Degree’s from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan.

A mother and son, a husband and wife, classmates from different decades. This four-some of dedicated artists have combined to present an unusual and exceptional collective to the public.

About the Artists:

Ian George is a graduate of the New York School of Visual Arts.  His work has been shown in galleries in New York and Los Angeles, including Seven Gallery and Sotheby’s. He currently lives in Morristown, NJ.

www.iangeorgeart.com 

Jane George is a NJ State Council of the Arts award winning artist, a two-time HEART Grant recipient and is on the Faculty of Kean University.  She currently lives in Summit, NJ.

www.janegeorge.net

Chris and Danielle Merzatta are both artists holding Masters of Fine Arts degrees from 2007.  In 2009, they married and established Merzatta Design, LLC and have worked together on contemporary art jewelry and private commissions since.  They currently live in Mendham, NJ.

www.merzatta.moonfruit.com