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When Painting, Emanuel Jeremy Gershfeld finds inspiration from interpreting
music on his viola; wandering through cities like Chicago, New
York, Prague, or Venice -marveling at all of the beautiful architecture;
or simply observing interesting people as they walk by. He takes
inspiration from the architecture of Frank Gehry, the music of
Beethoven, Bartok, Schoenberg and Ives; and the art of Kandinsky,
Picasso, Pollack and Richter. A classically trained violist and
violinist, when Gershfeld interprets and performs music, he follows
the strict guidelines and boundaries expressly laid out by the
composer. A note must be played exactly in tune for a precise
duration. When painting, Gershfeld found that he could paint whatever
color he wishes wherever he wishes, applied however he wishes.
From the strict world of classical music, it was a liberating
departure. However, Gershfeld believes that for art to be coherent,
and thus successful, inherent structure is essential.
In his current work, he mixes and layers bright colors of acrylic
paints using a palette knife or paintbrush on different sized
canvases. He then takes scores of music he has performed and selected
photo images and then cuts them to the shape of abstract objects
resembling string instruments, birds, people, and other various
subjects. After affixing the flat paper sculpture to the canvas
he dilutes paint to a watery texture and uses several splash and
splatter techniques to add movement and life to the painting.
When the painting "happens", the process resembles exuberant and
abstract jazz improvisation: After Gershfeld has painstakingly
assembled all the elements on the canvas, he throws, slings, and
spatters the paint onto the canvas with brushes, squeeze bottles,
and small catapults... It is a formalized process of layering
differing mediums that is only complete when Gershfeld's act of
emotionally charged expression on canvas finally comes to rest.
Born in 1969, Emanuel Jeremy Gershfeld is a native of Bethesda, Maryland. Currently
residing in Chicago, Gershfeld began painting at the suggestion
of his wife, Elizabeth, who noticed his cooking at times was a
little too adventurous. His painting - "Must it be? It must Be!"
(which alludes to the famous inscription in Beethoven's last string
quartet) appeared in 2001 and 2002's editions of Strings, The
Strad magazine, and the American String Teachers Association magazine.
A long time professional classical violist and violinist, Gershfeld
is the founding member and artistic director of the Camerata Society
of Chicago, a chamber music group that collaborates with chefs
by performing concerts in the same venue and previous to a multi-course
dinner. Gershfeld also designs women's fashion, starting EG Design Studio in 2000, selling his lines throughout the United States.
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