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Artist at work: Frost at the UAlbany gallery. Photo
by: John Whipple
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It’s
in the Details
From
a distance, Phil Frost’s paintings look like a stamping of
tribal-like ink patterns. Currently on exhibit at the University
at Albany’s University Art Museum, his works feature bold
white symbols of hearts, arrows, circles, and other shapes
that contrast with the wash of color peeking out of the negative
spaces. With their size and stature (some reaching as high
as 15 feet), they are best viewed for overall design from
afar; but upon closer inspection, the textures of the paintings,
some without an obvious pattern or purpose, appear. Bottle
caps, dried leaves, rocks and fluffy colored feathers are
nailed or glued into place, each welcoming visitors to carefully
touch.
Besides Frost’s basic materials—spray paint, gouache, and
correctional fluid—each additional piece of material was chosen
not for its actual look or feel, but rather for is presence
in his work environment. Something discarded and left behind
by someone else or a piece of nature picked up off the ground
becomes part of the documentation of the moment of each painting’s
creation.
Frost, a Guilderland High School alumnus, began his career
as a self-taught, self-disciplined graffiti artist in New
York City. Later, he began working with canvas, wooden boards,
and glass jugs instead of pavement. His work has been most
often exhibited at the Jack Shainman Gallery in New York City,
but has also appeared in galleries in Tokyo, San Francisco,
and Philadelphia. Frost’s designs have also been seen on album
covers for DJ Shadow and Sick of It All, as well as on a line
of DC skate sneakers.
Recently, Frost spent a few moments walking around the gallery
and discussing his method of layering each work, his choice
and use of materials, and his life as artist.
Straying from a list of basic questions, the reporter wondered
out loud about his use of the sleepy-eyed, teeth-bearing faces,
which appear repeatedly in his paintings. In one of these,
Harvest, among layered pieces of newsprint, lace and
correctional fluid, a face is placed subtly to the side. The
face could have gone unnoticed it if it had not been for large,
square, white teeth that clearly formed a mouth. When asked
if that was something he had ever made a point of focusing
in on, Frost answered, “Um . . . I don’t really think so.”
Later, after the tour was over and the reporter had gone,
Frost phoned. He had been thinking about the comment on the
teeth and the idea of a fixation. As it turns out, he had
just been too shy to mention that there might be an explanation
for the almost garish, grinning teeth. Frost had the traumatic
experience of having a group of his own teeth knocked out
in a biking accident when he was 9 years old. While he stressed
that none of the faces was a self-portrayal, Frost wondered
if the accident might be the cause of a subconscious sensitivity
or focus on mouths.
Starting next week, Frost plans on adding finishing touches
to a number of works already on display at the gallery. Like
others finished before them, these mostly untitled pieces
will have their share of layers added to the base painting.
Nothing specific, but as Frost explains, each piece will be
self-encompassing. Visitors who are able to catch the man
in action can ask him their own questions.
—Katharine
Jones
mALORsUDas
sOLarMB: Selected Works by Phil Frost will be on display at
the UAlbany University Art Museum’s second floor gallery through
Sept. 3. For more information call 442-4035.
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| We’re
Gone, You’re Forgotten |
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In
a troubling postscript to the unexpected closing
of the Albany-Schenectady League of Arts last
month [“Sudden Shutdown,” Art Murmur, June 10],
it was discovered recently that members who had
secured health insurance through the ASLA were
actually left without coverage as of May 31, not
June 30 as originally promised.
In a letter sent to members on May 27, former
League of Arts executive director Cynthia Bennett
apologized for “having to close [their] doors
and, hence, [their] insurance company.” A second
letter from league president Robert Briber assured
members that they would “not be covered through
the league after June 30, 2004.” In early June,
Briber went so far as to suggest that the decision
to close had not yet been made, directly contradicting
both himself and the board of directors.
The latest letter—dated June 24 and signed by
Thea Hoeth, a member of the league’s board of
directors—paints a far bleaker picture. “It is
my sad task to inform you that . . . the League
is unable to pay the health insurance premiums
for your coverage for June,” the letter informs.
Although the letter goes on to imply that there
may be the option of continued coverage directly
through CDPHP (Capital District Physicians’ Health
Plan), the last day to file for an extension of
benefits was June 5.
According to the New York State Insurance Department’s
Web site, COBRA law mandates that “employers with
20 or more employees who provide group health
plans must offer . . . an opportunity to elect
continuation” of coverage, usually for a period
of up to 18 months following the discontinuation,
paid for by the individual. However, as the majority
of members holding coverage were not actually
ASLA employees, the law does not apply in this
situation.
While some of the 60 members who held coverage
through the ASLA were able to obtain coverage
through other sources for the month of June, some
were caught off-guard by this announcement and
left with medical expenses that they are now forced
to pay out-of-pocket.
Michael Wollowitz, whose wife held his family’s
coverage through the ASLA, had a family member’s
June doctor visit retroactively denied payment
by CDPHP. “Our initial reaction was anger at CDPHP.
. . . I feel strongly that CDPHP could have done
a much better job of informing a group of its
‘members’ that they had been placed in a highly
untenable position.” Wollowitz continues, “It
took a couple of days before it dawned on me that
ASLA had put us in a very dangerous position.
. . . If I or any member of the family had had
a major medical emergency during June we could
have been ruined financially. I don’t know whether
ASLA’s actions were legally criminal, but they
were certainly ethically criminal.”
Emily Rauch, another disenfranchised ASLA member,
offers her own insight into the cause and effect
of the League’s closing. “Although commingling
of funds is frowned upon, most small organizations
borrow from Peter to pay Paul. . . . When income
minus operating deficit is less than your legal
obligations it is time to call it quits.”
A decision as to whether the members’ June premiums
will be refunded by the League has not yet been
reached, although, considering their bleak financial
situation, that seems unlikely. Members wishing
to inquire about the status of their premiums
are encouraged to contact CDPHP’s member services
department at 641-3700, or Thea Hoeth at 434-3052.
Robert Briber and Cynthia Bennett couldn’t be
reached for comment.
—John
Brodeur
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Columns
& Opinions
