Jeff Matsuno: Artist Talk - Hollywood Heritage Museum

CONTACT

jmatsuno3@verizon.net

jeff.matsuno@yahoo.com

jeffmatsuno.blogspot.com

ghostsofhollywood.blogspot.com

RESUME

Education

1985 Bachelor of Art Degree Art/Art History (with honors)

CSU Long Beach CA

Special Studies

1985 Guggenheim Studentship, Peggy Guggenheim Collection Venice, Italy

1984 Curatorial Internship, MOCA, Los Angeles CA

1983 Museum Studies Program, Univ. Art Museum, CSU Long Beach CA

1981-1982 CSU International Programs, Florence, Italy

Work Experience

2013-present Historic Preservation Commissioner, City of Redondo B. CA

2002-present Artist and Art Teacher, Redondo Beach CA

1997-2001 Artist, Venice, Italy

1998 Monastery of Romite Ambrosiane, Sculptures and Restoration, Italy

1995 M. Sheppard Design, Wood Working, Culver City CA

1996 Tom Farrage Architect, Wood Working, Culver City CA

1993-1994 Missionaries of Charity, Design and Construction, LA CA

1990-1993 Diocesi of Makeni, Design and Constr., Sierra Leone, Africa

1989 James Turrell Artist, Construction, Flagstaff, AZ

1988 Panza Collection, Archive Organization, Milan, Italy

1987 Dennis Choate Sailboats, Construction, Long Beach CA

1983 Malinda Wyatt Gallery, Gallery Preparation, Venice CA

Personal Exhibitions

2014 AIA The American Institute of Architects, Los Angeles CA

2013-2014 Ghosts of Hollywood, Hollywood Heritage Museum, LA CA

2011 Walls, Davis and Cline Gallery, Ashland OR

2011 Liminal Examinations, PZask Gallery, Palos Verdes CA

2010 Downtown LA, Lora Schlesinger Gallery, Bergamot, Santa Monica CA

2008 New Works, Invitation Solo Exhibition, JG Gallery, Santa Monica CA

2005 Venetian Visions, Inv. Solo Exhib., JG Gallery, Santa Monica CA

2003 Walls of Venice, JG Gallery, Santa Monica CA

2003 Walls, Palos Verdes Art Center CA, curated by Scott Canty

1999-2001 Walls of Venice, Il Prato Gallery, Venice, Italy

1998 Walls of Venice, San Pantalon Gallery, Venice, Italy

1997 Walls of Venice, Scoletta dei Calegheri, Venice, Italy

1996 Venetian Facades, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh PA

1988 Ad Interiora Deserti, San Fedele, Milan, Italy

1987 Ad Interiora Deserti, Franklin Furnace, New York NY

1987 Cappella I II III, LA Municipal Art Gallery CA

1986 Lectio Divina, LA Insitute of Contemporary Art CA

Group Exhibitions

2013 Group Show, Davis and Cline Gallery, Ashland OR

2012 SBF, Torrance Art Museum CA

2012 Summer Group Show, Lora Schlesinger Gallery, Santa Monica CA

2012 Group Show, Davis and Cline Gallery, Ashland OR

2012 Small Works, Lora Schlesinger Gallery, Bergamot St, Santa Monica CA

2011 SBF, Torrance Art Museum CA

2011 Unity, Peggy Zask Gallery, Palos Verdes CA

2010 SBF, Torrance Art Museum CA

2009 Art of the Surf, Peggy Zask Gallery, Palos Verdes CA

2008 Group Show, Inv. Group Exhib., JG Gallery, Santa Monica CA

2008 Art of the Surf, Peggy Zask Gallery, Palos Verdes CA

2007 Group Show, Inv. Group Exhib., JG Gallery, Santa Monica CA

2007 Martini & Art, Oceans Studio, Redondo Beach CA

2006 Group Show, Inv. Group Exhib., JG Gallery, Santa Monica CA

2006 Group Show, Gallery C, Hermosa Beach CA

2005 Group Show, Inv. Group Exhib., JG Gallery, Santa Monica CA

2004 Group Show, Inv. Group Exhib., JG Gallery, Santa Monica CA

2003 LA Black & White, Inv. Group Exhib., JG Gallery, Santa Monica CA

Selected Collections

Giuseppe Panza, Panza Collection, Switzerland / Italy

John Davis, Ashland OR

Gabriella Cardazzo, Venice, Italy

Luigino Rossi, Venice, Italy / New York NY

Renata Scomparin, Padova, Italy

Catherine Feric, St. Bart

Kimberly and Richard Sisisky, Jacksonville FL

Tom and Mary Malone, Palos Verdes Estates CA

Sandi and Bob Cooper, Bel Air CA

Judd Hammack, Santa Monica CA

Commissions

Costa Atlantica, Costa Cruises, Italy

Kaneko Design, Venice CA

Ron and Robbie Schaffer, Northridge CA

Archives

Getty Museum, Inventory of Giuseppe Panza Papers, 1956-1990

Publications

Wall Sculptures, Los Angeles Magazine, December 2013

Hollywood Heritage Museum, Newsletter, Winter 2013

American Contemporary Art, April / May 2010

The Beach Reporter, Matsuno at PV Art Center by M. Hixon, 2003

ARTifacts, Walls of Venice, 2003

PV Peninsula News, Italian Reinassance by M. Hixon, 2003

The Aesthetic, Walls of Venice by G. frost, 2003

Artist Talk

Hollywood Heritage Museum, Los Angeles CA, May 2014

Jon Swihart's Potluck #104, Santa Monica CA, Sep 2012

Universal Language, P Zask Gallery, Palos Verdes, May 2011

* sold

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

Genesis- "The wall is more beautiful..."

These works began while visiting the "Biennale" ( the biannual international art exhibit in Venice, Italy) with an architect friend. At one of the exhibits, located in a old, deconsecrated church, my friend commented, "I think the wall it's on is more beautiful than the artwork."

He was right. The wall held fantastic patterns of mold and mildew which seemed to emanate from behind the sculpture. I spent the rest of the day wandering Venice, searching for the abstract patterns of decay adorning the building of the ancient city. How could I capture that beauty artistically?

I began to experiment. I didn't want to do photography or traditional painting because they were both flat and even glossy, attributes antithetical to the textures I saw in the walls.

After a year or so of experimenting I moved back to Venice...

The Stroll and The Hunt

My paintings begin with a stroll around Venice. This is always very enjoyable. Venetians say Americans walk in fifth gear. From them I had to learn how to walk in first gear. At first it's almost uncomfortably slow. It's not about getting anywhere, it's about being where you are, enjoying both the conversation (if strolling in company) and the view.

Once I started working on the paintings my strolls became hunts. I was hunting for those passages in the walls that held visual interest- either textural, tonal or archaeological.

Once back in the studio the hunt continues, searching for compositional harmony, a frame within the frame of the printed photo.

Then comes the construction...

Craftsmanship

In high school I made (and still make) surfboards. In college I worked for a boatbuilder, lofting sailboat hulls and shaping rudders and keel plugs. After college I worked in many facets of construction- residential remodelling, furniture design and fabrication, even hand carving wood. I used to joke, "I was born to sand."

At the time my various occupations seemed a bit random but they all came together when I started making these paintings.

My paintings are very labor intensive and time consuming. I see no way around that. I believe craftsmanship will outlast trends and styles of art. It is a quality that resonates across centuries and diverse cultures. I hope it is evident in my art.