The Wall Street Journal-20080123-Many Miles From -Ocean Park-
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Many Miles From 'Ocean Park'
"Diebenkorn in New Mexico"; Grey Art Gallery, New York University; Jan. 25 through April 5; 212-998-6780 or www.nyu.edu/greyart.
Mention Richard Diebenkorn and serene compositions come to mind -- swaths of cool colors sometimes punctuated by a thin line of red or vibrant green. These abstract works, inspired by California's blue waters and expansive terrain, came to be known as the "Ocean Park" series (1967-1978) and solidified the artist's growing reputation. But when Diebenkorn was a graduate student of fine arts at the University of Mexico in Albuquerque (1950-1952), it was not cool colors that filled the artist's palette and imagination. Instead, he favored toasty reds and warm yellows, colors reflective of the sandy and hot Southwest.
This exhibit showcases 40 paintings and drawings of the period, culled from museums and private collections as well as the Diebenkorn estate, many on view publicly for the first time.
