CINDY TOWER: Decadense

Bruno David Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition by Cindy Tower. “Decadense” [sic] includes recent paintings of decrepit, isolated and condemned architectural settings. A fully illustrated color catalogue with writings by Charlie Finch and Angela L. Miller accompany the exhibition. 

Originally a sculptor and performance artist, Cindy Tower lets her creative background shine through in paintings that have become visual evidence of performance. Raw in spirit and conviction, Tower’s highly articulated works engage the viewer in a visceral, otherworldly experience. Composite views of decrepitude become metaphors of bodily functions and reflect the political climate of our modern world. Wet, gloppy oil paint is applied in a loose yet precise manner in which subjects continuously dematerialize and reemerge. Tower’s painting practice mirrors her concept of gradual accumulation that not only provides an exhausting, claustrophobic sensation but also raises questions regarding the complexity and level of exchange that occurs in our modern world. Presenting the themes of consumption, intimacy, obsolescence and loss, the paintings are an overwhelming celebration of materials and process. They provide the viewer with an intuitive, physical experience that both engages and engulfs him or her in the self-contained environment of each artwork.

Born in Alamogordo, New Mexico, Cindy Tower received her B.F.A. from Cornell University and was a forerunner of the Williamsburg art scene (New York City) in the early eighties. She went on to obtain her M.F.A. in 1988 from the University of California, San Diego, where she studied under Eleanor Antin and Allan Kaprow. In 2005, she settled in St. Louis to paint disappearing industries. In addition, she has taught at Washington University in St. Louis, The New York Studio School in New York and Savannah College of Art and Design. Tower has exhibited nationally and has been the focus of numerous one-person exhibitions including the New Museum in New York. Her work has been reviewed in national publications, including Art in America and The New York Times. Bruno David Gallery, 3721 Washington Boulevard