The Jackson Hole Muse Gallery’s spring show, “Taking What’s Abstract Out of Abstract Art,” features new works by five artists: Carrie Geraci, Gregory Gummersall, Bernd Haussmann, Whitney Nye and Valerie Stuart. The show is up and remains on exhibit through until May 1.
The show’s title suggests the gallery believes that, to most locals, abstract art is a tiny bit out of bounds. Muse wants you to get friendly with abstractions. You should. You should get friendly with any art that speaks to you, and any art can. For those of us living in a verdant mountain valley, under ridiculously blue skies, alongside sparkling rivers and the fluttering ellipses of lemon-yellow aspen leaves, the vibrant colors and compositions in this show are eagerly taken in.
Earlier this week arts writer Todd Wilkinson spoke on the topic of art’s great 
context. It was a treat to hear that recognition expressed so ardently; we deny this great truth, I fear, and we fight against one another. Sometimes it seems a great chasm divides what we think of as traditional representational painting and the contemporary. But there is no chasm, only a path. What we create today has its roots in earlier creativity. As Todd reminded us, Rothko’s distilled tones are present in a flower’s petal, or a stone or a snowfield.
In this show, artists tumble color kaleidoscopically, imagine corals, bubbling water and swirling ink. Shapes are panoramic, shapes are nature’s microcosms. Light permeates, pierces and refracts. Maybe you’ll catch a little glimpse of Klimt.
The J.H. Muse Gallery is located at 62 S. Glenwood Street, in Jackson. Telephone 307-733-0555. Email: [email protected]
Tammy Christel 
