David E. Peterson
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Artist Statement
Color Block Synthesis 47.142
David E. Peterson’s Color Block Synthesis 47.142 is the resulting assemblage of forty-seven digital color studies using one hundred and forty-two colors that were compiled throughout 2024. Peterson asks, what if important early to mid 20th century color theorists had access to the now extant digital technology of the early 21st century? Where paintings and works on paper that have existed as static distillations of color could now become ephemeral blocks of color informed by pixels; where numerous color studies could now populate the same physical footprint that a single-color study historically occupied. Color Block Synthesis 47.142 exists as a single complete work with its staggered temporal sequential presentation of color juxtapositions. It is not only
visually compelling on a single screen, but when it is paired or multiplied with a version of itself - slightly staggered sequences within the same edition - the resulting “kaleidoscope” of blocked color becomes downright mesmerizing. Color Block Synthesis 47.142 allows the user to transform the banality of the ubiquitous “smart black rectangle” that now exists within virtually every household on a wall or a surface by “activating it” in an atypical, yet readily accessible way. Indeed, the user also participates in the resulting aesthetic based upon the size of their smart tv.
Color Block Synthesis 47.142 is the result of a video art patron’s commission of a project where both the artist and the patron began to repeatedly experiment with blocked color along with temporal sequence and the associated fluidity of its resulting rhythm. They recognized that this extraordinary result should be available to be enjoyed by a wider audience and in seemingly endless combinations of linear and asymmetric multi-channel compositions that now visually transcend the original commission.
The commission drew extensively on Peterson’s multi-decade knowledge of color theory as a visual artist working in various media – painting, sculpture, printmaking, video, sound, and photography. It also draws upon Peterson’s unique tech savvy working within the field of digital manipulation.
Color Block Synthesis 47.142 exists as an edition of 200 through which multiples within the edition can be acquired and temporally sequenced to create multiple presentations.
Color Block Synthesis 47.142 exists as an edition of 200 through which multiples within the edition can be acquired and temporally sequenced to create multiple presentations.
The exhibition at Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta, features two, large-scale video
installations of Color Block Synthesis 47.142.
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Biography
David E. Peterson (born 1979, United States) is a multi-media artist whose work has been exhibited extensively throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. His work is included in several public, corporate and private collections including the Museum of New Art, Detroit; Progressive Art Collection, Ohio; Bilzin and Sumberg, Miami; Home Depot Headquarters, Atlanta; and Jorge Perez’s Related Group, Miami. Peterson’s work has been featured in the media including Forbes, Loft Magazine, Southern Living, CNN, New York Times, New York’s Arts Magazine, Huffington Post, Detroit Free Press, Studio Visit, and New American Paintings #112. Peterson holds a BFA degree from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit; he lives and works in Atlanta.
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Archives
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Leaners
The Leaner series was started in 2013 and is still active. Falling in love with the leaning object; the Leaners are in reference to John McCracken’s Planks, Anne Truitt’s standing sculptures, the slabs of wood leaning at the wood store, and vintage wooden surfboards leaning against a wall. The Leaners are simply beautiful pieces of wood gently leaning against the wall. The wood grain is juxtaposed against color fields and pin stripes. The color fields and pin-stripes are taken from various sources within industrial design and luxury fashion that I have documented over time. The edges are mitered at 45 degrees to create an illusion of thickness (Synthetic vs Nature)
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Puzzles
The Puzzle series was started in 2009 and is still active. After constructing pieces for the By Manufacturer series, I found myself with a collection of scrap wood. I started building smaller structures with the scraps and arranging them together in multiple sections. Breaking out of the rectangle and square for a surface to paint on, the Puzzles are multi-dimensional and can be flipped and rearranged. The wood grain is juxtaposed against color fields and pin stripes that are taken from various sources within industrial design and luxury fashion. (Synthetic vs Nature).
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By Manufacturer
The By Manufacturer was started in 2008 and ended in 2013. This series is informed by industrial design and luxury fashion. Inspiration might come from a brightly-colored sneaker, an eye-catching dress, an intricate watch or a well-arranged print ad. Once my interest is captured, I immediately begin translating the design into my work. I begin the process by systematically identifying the most important elements of the industrial design. I am looking at color, line, shape, scale, and finish. These key traits are broken down, then reconstructed as the foundation for my own composition in Photoshop. This computer rendering becomes my mock-up and I refer to it as I build my panel, paint it and apply the finish. My studio becomes an artist’s assembly line; the end result is a precise Art Object.
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Semi-Trucks
The Semi-Truck series was a fun deconstruction project that resulted in a series of 71 drawings from 2010 – 2014. In 2009 and 2010, I did a lot of driving from Atlanta to NYC, Miami and Detroit. I started noticing the colors and graphics on Semi-Trucks and decided to make a series of drawings about Semi-Trucks. I specifically looked at the color of the cab, color of the trailer and the color and shapes of the graphics.
