from The Merced County Times

Merced College Art Gallery presents “Recent Works” by Bay Area artist Monjett Graham, Tuesday through Sept. 20. The Public is invited to meet the artist at his gallery reception Sept. 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 p. m. Monjett described the series to be shown in Merced as, “figurative, with a musical theme.”

Monjett’s distinctive mixed media collage paintings reflect his highly original and progressively developing view of the world. The juxtaposition of found objects, natural materials, clothing and lushly applied paints produces startling effects that often edify as well as entertain…

Originally from the Midwest, Monjett has been developing his humorous, often biting style of painterly social commentary in the Bay Area for 20 years. One of his key influences was working for the San Francisco Opera Company.

It took more than 10 years of diverse and intense experimentation for the effects of working deeply with textiles and multi-media effects to get in fulfilling his lifelong desire to create beautiful and evocative works of art.

Graham often utilizes images from world mythologies and nature as well as drawing inspiration directly from the contemporary life in forming and naming his works. The found objects frequently form the basis for a “neo-impasto” by emphasizing a depth and texture separate from the pains, often shaping a distinct art piece beneath the surface.

He has been showing in galleries in both solo and group shows since the early 1970s. His abstractionist representations and construction pieces grace the walls of offices and private homes across the United States.

His extraordinarily developed technical expertise combined with his intuitive grasp of composition and order has given form to an incredible new force in the art world. His avant-garde styling may one day be compared to those of the great art pioneers for boldness, daring and vision.

Merced College Art Gallery is located in the theater building on W. Yosemite Avenue, between G and M streets. Regular gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

During this exhibit, the gallery will also be open two Friday evenings, Sept. 7 and14, in conjunction with the Travel Lecture Series in the college theater.

For further information, call (209) 384-6064.

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