The Before Show: Patricia Frischer at Symbologist

By Patricia Frischer

The Before Show: Patricia Frischer Closing VIP reception Sat. March 11 from 6 to 9 pm at Symbologist Gallery (2060 Logan Ave unit C, SD 92113 in Barrio Logan) during Chicano Park gallery crawl night The exhibition runs  from Feb 11 to March 30,  2017 More info: Kaarin Vaughan 619-693-5004

Most of the time, when you go to an art opening, everyone is standing around drinking, eating, gossiping, networking, hanging or trying to score. What made this exhibition opening reception different was that the attendees were talking about the art. There was a massive amount of content in the show to discuss and that was partly because the work spanned about 1/3 of the life of the artist (presuming she has another 20 years to make art!) and partly because this artist makes neo-narrative work. That means the art tells a story, maybe not a linear story, but a story that relates to the viewer. Of course, some art relates more to one person than another, but that is what makes a conversation.

The show's title is intriguing and refers to the work made from the beginning of Frischer's time in San Diego and spans the time until she started making sculptures in about 2013. She received her master degree in  sculpture from California College of Arts and Crafts then in Oakland and now renamed CCA in both San Francisco and Oakland. So this show represents a cycle of painting in the US after 30 years of painting in London, England where she resides after graduation.The paintings on display give a small taste of a number but not all of the series that were created: Water Rings, Cafe Deception, Borders of Intmacy, Sacred and Profane.Only one work in the show, Takes Time But Worth It, is being shown for the first time.  The titles of the individual works are little poems in their own right.  

Returning to sculpture completes the cycle and the speculation is that an AFTER show of 3-d work might be forthcoming some time in the future. 

Firthscape, Scotland,1997 – living in Glasgow on the firth of Clyde with this dramatic sunset view, the last area of exploration before returning to America

Prevailing Wind, San Diego1997 – first view in the new house in Cardiff by the Sea. Ocean sunsets are done by everyone but these are stong and individual

Synch or Sink, San Diego, 1999
Water Rings series – large red version was donated by buyer to the Women’s Cancer Center at Scripps Memorial Hospital 

Unfazed Fetish, San Diego , 1999

Water Rings series – shoes have always been a passion and have been sculpted by this artist  in aluminum and clay. 

Archimedies Redefined, San Diego, 1999
Water Ring Series, Dancing glass of champagne owned by the director of Symbologist Gallery, Kaarin Vaughn

The Deception is in the Depth of Perspection, San Diego,1999
Café Deception series – background  doodles by ladies from SD and LA brainstorming ideas for the Café Deception exhibition.  The show was part of Art Wallk and took place in what is now the MOCASD downtown location. 

Queen Recluse, San Diego, 2002

Sacred and Profane Series – a strong women, but secluded in the house yet her power is felt out in the world.This is the wizard of oz legend reinterpreted by a woman from Kansas.  

Part of Her, 2002
Sacred and Profane series– notice the night shadow figure on the frame, he is ominous and also protecting.

Ladies Night In, his view, Sand Diego, 2002
Sacred and Profane series

Ladies Night In, her view, Sand Diego, 2002
Sacred and Profane series – notice these two are the two different views, one of him looking across at her and one of her looking down at her own feet..

Borders of Intimacy, San Diego, 2004
Borders of Intimacy series – name sake piece for the show. Many elements reoccur including the lips  in lots of these works with references to film noir. Notice the shadow man.

Double Dipping, San Diego,  2004

Borders of Intimacy series  - do you know someone well enough to share a glass or plate of food, use the same utensils?

Girl with Tit, San Diego, 2004
Borders of Intimacy series - The sexual reference to tit…probably the bird is not even a tit!

Water Remembers, San Diego, 2005 
The title of this works comes from a set of secrets that were deposited in a show at Mesa Collage.  Fat and Happy is the circle top right and was a right brain exercise to tap into the subconscious This circle with it paths and vistas is another re-occurring image

Takes Time But Worth It, San Diego, 2005

Borders of Intimacy series – all about sex, slow down, enjoy it. The cylinder behind represents the bottomless pit that is never filled up…can you ever have enough sex? 

Gap in the Clouds, San Diego, 2005 – Sex and shadow man...the artist did a very early series of work before and after a trip to Japan and those symbols re-appear in the continuing non-linear story. 

Little Prince, San Diego, 2016

Passport to France series – one of five banners  that all contained images of the Eiffel Tower. The adult/child book The Little Prince inspired this work with its sad and wise characters. This event was held by the Encinitas Friends of the Art saround the same time as the tragedy in Nice where many were killed in a terrorist attack. 

Back to sculpture, the artist made these plastic wrap and cellophane figures wrapping the gallery director Kaarin Vaughan who was more than the model, but the actual body of the three works on display.