February 10 – March 8, 1972
Art Gallery, Eugenia Fuller Atwood Library
BEAVER NEWS 1972
“Artist Larry Day to Hold One Man Show” by Ann Blackham
Larry Day, a noted Philadelphian artist and professor of art at the Philadelphia College of Art, is holding a one-man show in the Atwood Art Gallery. The opening of his exhibition will be held this Thursday evening, February 10, from 8 to 10 PM. The will continue through March 8.
Mr. Day, a native Philadelphian, received his bachelor of fine arts degree from the Tyler School of Fine Arts. He has held solo exhibitions in Philadelphia at the Philadelphia Art Alliance, Peale House, Dubin Gallery, and 1015 Gallery.
Other exhibitions were held at Parma Gallery, Brata Gallery, and Terry Dintenfass in New York. He has participated in two, three and four man shows at the Philadelphia College of Art, Philadelphia Art Alliance, Tyler School of Fine Arts, 1015 Gallery, Aspen School of Art, Bard College, and Benson Gallery. Mr. Day’s work has been presented in group shows at Indiana University, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Woodmere Art Gallery and Cain Gallery in Denver. He has exhibited in major group shows at the Brooklyn Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia Art Alliance, New York Studio School, Vassar College, Stanford University, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine arts Annuals.
Gallery hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and from 2 to 5 p.m. on weekends.
“Larry Day: Drawings” exhibiton card, c. 1972.
BEAVER NEWS 1972
“Larry Day Employs Surprising Versatility” by Susan Stein
Larry Day, a teacher at the Philadelphia College of Art, currently has an exhibition of drawings on view at the Atwood Library Art Gallery. The show is unusual because of Day’s surprising versatility and departure from a single idea. The artist skillfully portrays an array of different subjects, perspectives, and entirely diverse approaches to each drawing.
Mr. Day, undoubtedly a master of representational drawing skills, is able to employ his talents to their best advantage. While so many contemporary artists, particularly Frank Stella, are engrossed in a single theme and its subsequent variations, Day appears to be interested in a variety of themes from burlesqued classics to nudes examined from unlimited vantage points.
The six Studies for Poker Game are perfect examples of a single theme treated six different ways. One drawing makes use of line only; the others transform the use of light and dark to completely change the drawing.
Several of Day’s works are a reworking of paintings by Mantegna and Poussin. The Rape of the Sabine Woman is a starting point for After Poussin which seems to be a much more violent work than the original.
On the other hand Parnassus Revisited is a satiric combination of elements substituted into the positions of the real figures. Day’s figures, however, are toothpaste advertisement models who adda peculiar dimension, especially coupled with a motorcycle rider and gangsteresque character.
The numerous figure studies are worlds apart from one another, notwithstanding the intrinsic elegant simplicity which each drawing contains. The minimum is used to create the optimum effect. In addition, Day once again evokes a unique response to each drawing; the qualities of each drawing are noticeable and exciting.
Day’s work requires a studious, careful perusal in order that one may examine the thoughts and emotions which Day conveys. His exhibition will be on display through March 8.
