Gallery 72 1806 Vinton Street, Omaha, NE / www.gallery72.com / info@gallery72.com ––– PRESS INFORMATION | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Omaha, Nebraska | August 17, 2017 Show Title: Wobbly Cubism: Paintings by Al Harris Fernandez Artists: Al Harris-Fernandez Show Opening and Book Launch: Friday, September 8, 2017, 5:00 – 9:00 PM Gallery Talk and Book Signing: Wednesday, September 13, 2017, 7:00 PM Book: “Al Harris-Fernandez Paintings” including an essay by Janet Stiles Tyson, iart historian, art critic, university lecturer, and artist Show Dates: Friday, September through Saturday, October 7, 2017 Artwork: Paintings, acrylic on canvas Comments: Al Harris-Fernandez, director of the Sioux City Art Center, has been balancing the direction of non-profit arts organizations, while making his own art for thirty years The artist notes: “I have a lot of energy to create artwork as well as a strong drive to experiment.” While producing a large body of work during the time he has resided in Sioux City he chose not to promote himself as an artist until recently Before moving to Iowa, Harris-Fernandez showed extensively in galleries and museums in Texas during the 1980s and 1990s In 1993 he moved to Buffalo, New York to direct the art gallery at the State University of New York, Buffalo While in Buffalo, he continued to show and was included in two major museum shows After accepting the position at the Sioux City Art Center, Harris-Fernandez decided to withdraw from promoting his work while he explored a number of directions, including editorial like cartoons, landscapes, made-up portraits, as well as images inspired by TV and movie stills In 2008, he began experimenting with abstraction, which was to become an obsession He refers to this growing body of work, which has roots in cubism, surrealism, and cartoons as “wobbly cubism.” In 2014, Harris-Fernandez began sharing his work and began exploring opportunities to exhibit The first opportunity was in 2015 when John Rogers, director and owner, included his work in a four-person show at Gallery 72 Plans for a solo exhibition of a new body of work began in 2016, while at the same time the artist contacted and shared his work with an art critic that had reviewed his work for the Fort Worth Star Telegram in the 1980s and ‘90s As a result, the idea for a publication took form that would connect the artist’s past work with his present work The publication, featuring an essay by Janet Styles Tyson, will be launched concurrent with the exhibition Gallery 72 1806 Vinton Street, Omaha, NE / www.gallery72.com / info@gallery72.com ––– Images Pathways #1 36” x 36” Pathways #2 36” x 36” The Heaven Paintings #1 36” x 36” Move 20” x 20” Additional and higher resolution images are available Contact: John Rogers | (402) 496 4797 | jrogers@gallery72.com www.Gallery72.com | Gallery 72, 1806 Vinton Street, Omaha NE 68108