“Less monotonous and less abstract than flowing water, even more quick to grow and to change than
the young bird we watch every day in its nest in the bushes, fire suggests the desire to change, to
speed up the passage of time, to bring life to its conclusion, to its hereafter… If a... Read more
“Less monotonous and less abstract than flowing water, even more quick to grow and to change than
the young bird we watch every day in its nest in the bushes, fire suggests the desire to change, to
speed up the passage of time, to bring life to its conclusion, to its hereafter… If all that changes slowly
may be explained by life, all that changes quickly is explained by fire” – The Psychoanalysis if Fire,
Gaston Bachelard 1968
James Fuentes LLC is pleased to announce Part 1 of John McAllister’s debut solo exhibition
Fire. Part 2 will follow in the fall.
For six years McAllister exclusively made paintings of fire. After pouring over thousands of
images of fire, he developed an extensive visual language that he exercised in paintings of
fires set within landscapes of rural America. Rendering one of nature’s most destructive yet
regenerating forces, this long-term and rigorous exploration of fire’s elusive, abstract and
luminous qualities confront something inherent in the dialectic of abstract painting.
John McAllister, born in Slidell, Louisiana, is an artist based in Los Angeles. A recent MFA
graduate of Art Center College of Design, he is a Joan Mitchell Grand Award Recipient and his
work will be included in the accompanying exhibition in June 2008. He currently works as
assistant to the artist Richard Hawkins.
For additional information contact Becky or James at 212.577.1201, info@jamesfuentes.com
