Featured Work
DAMNATION is the most recent iteration of Gabe Drueke's Transfer Series. These compositions are trending towards anthropomorphic forms as Gabe's approach matures. This evolution provides a captivating hint of narrative to otherwise subjective works in the series.
LAUNCH CODE is the latest edition to Gabe Drueke's abstract acrylic paintings. The work bridges the intricate details of the Radiate Series with the bold lines and simple color planes of the Transfer Series. The red, white and black composition evokes the propaganda graphics of a bygone era, a notion underscored by its title.
TRANSFER SERIES
My Transfer series is born of an effort to develop an authentic style. As an experienced sign painter, the use of lettering brushes creates a distinct feel in my compositions. When I create a piece, I often begin with sessions of meditative lettering practice to help ground my thoughts and become immersed in the automation of creating forms. This, along with a limited color palette, simplifies the path to creating subjective works that leave much to the imagination.
There is a captivating tension between the broad, confident strokes of colors. I want to entice the viewer to follow these lines of travel – to engage in exploration of the script-like characters in an attempt to decipher a coded message or uncover profound meaning in the works. There’s a sense of mystery – a puzzle to solve perhaps – that appeals to the the allure of discovery and begs the viewer to enter the labyrinth. The paintings are a feast for the eyes and imagination. Enjoy the adventure!
RADIATE SERIES
The works found in my Radiate Series unintentionally reveal evidence of my time spent working in power plants. The compositions are subjective but there can be found an undeniable snapshot of the confusion of pipes and wiring, acrid smells, and extreme temperatures I was exposed to for a number of years. Everything in the plant is big and dirty and loud. Stored energy is everywhere and potential for disaster lurks around every corner. Listen to the meshing of gears, and feel the vibration and deafening drone of massive turbines and the clanging of pipes expanding and contracting under stress from super-heated steam.
Contained in the brushstrokes, there also lies societal representations in the form of roadways, maps, skylines and infrastructure. There’s an overall uneasiness and distress of impending doom in some, while others are in the throes of destruction. I believe this perceived turmoil finds its roots in my own struggle to discern truth in the media, and particularly within the tug of war that is taking place regarding decreased energy production and ever increasing consumption.
The works are not entirely devoid of hope. Bright colors swirl. The radiating light is warm on the skin. There is a nervous excitement – like being on a roller coaster as it slowly clicks, rattles and labors its way to the top of the first drop. Hold on! Ready or not, change is coming.
