Artist’s Statement
I am fascinated by the physical, visual, and psychological implications that a painting can contain. Painting is an act of exploration, and, for me, abstraction has been the most efficient way to address the complexities of time and space, the simultaneous presence of influences and experiences. When I was young, I learned to paint with a kind of economy. That trained me to listen closely to my intuition for direction, to make decisions based on signals that were unclear but motivating. The urge to articulate what isn’t yet formed is the feeling that lands me on the painting surface. My approach is, in large part, emotional. The way I use color is subjective and sometimes random. It is a physical act for me, pushing and moving paint. Playing with light and gesture evokes a sense of place and a ground for interaction not unlike improvising around a musical idea. My visual compositions are improvisational, and I am interested in creating pieces that have impact emotionally and intellectually. I strive towards resolution of some kind. With this current set of paintings, I see a frankness. What I want in my work is often what I look for in other’s work. A willingness to be vulnerable and to be brave. I like to see facility but what I really want to see are inexplicabilities. The awkward messiness that has nothing to do with trying to impress with ego or personality but, instead, creates curiosity about why these images come up. Biographical Information In the 32 years that he lived in Oregon, Pat Barrett established himself as a painter of note. Raised in California in the orchards of the Santa Clara Valley, his childhood was filled with the freedoms and experiences of the natural world. Those sensations of energy, space, shape, color, and mystery are often reflected in his work. In 1969, Pat moved to Los Angeles to attend Otis Art Institute where he received his MFA in painting. The rigor of the painting program at Otis formed his studio practice. For more than 40 years Pat has been featured in numerous solo and group shows. Known as a vibrant colorist, his large abstractions have a deep lyricism and are also testament to gesture and figure. As Coordinator of the Visual Arts Gallery at Mount Hood Community College, he gained a reputation as an expert curator, bringing thoughtful and contemporary ideas to the work shown. His paintings are housed in private and public collections across the West. His greatest exposure as an artist has taken place in Portland, Oregon, where he has been selected twice for the Oregon Biennial and where he has been a member of Gallery 114 in Portland’s Pearl District. |
Pat Barrett
Signals Unclear May 2 - June 1, First Thursday May 2, 5-8pm Celebration of Pat's Work: May 4, 2-5pm About the Exhibit Most of the pieces presented here were done in 2022 and 2023, in preparation for this May show. Although it was not anticipated or foreseen by any of us, Pat especially, those were the last two years of his life. What he has left behind for all of us is his view of the world. Life as it looked to him. Pat had an enormous desire to explore and connect through his art making. He also had a taste for ambiguity. He talked sparingly about the choices he made in his work, offering little revelation as to what he might be “thinking.” He kept his stories to himself. The paintings are his exact words. Emotions and impulses the drivers of his gestures. Improvisation his practice. Signals Unclear - Paintings
Signals Unclear - Inks
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Location1100 NW Glisan Street, Portland, OR. 97209
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