THE 18 PAINTINGS in Jason Wright's "New Ruins" exhibition at Georgetown's Fine Arts and Artist Gallery have a romantic sadness about them. Many of them are saturated in sepia-toned colors and fiberglass finishing; all represent "lost" images from Wright's past.

"The whole show is kind of a combination of pain, love, hopes and fears," he explains. "When you look at the images, some of them are very dreamy with cloud and seascapes — very ethereal. They all have a little bit of sadness to them but with some hope."

Wright got the idea for "New Ruins" after surfing in Hawaii, where he grew up and where, he noticed, the landscape has vastly changed since his childhood. "It really bothered me, because I spent so many years surfing there and had this place imprinted in my mind," he says.

He had a photograph of the area that coincided with his teen years. So he worked off the photograph, using some of his signature techniques such as calligraphy, graffiti, typography, silkscreen and watercolor to create a photorealist tribute.

A military brat who also grew up in California and Seattle, the D.C.-based Wright wants people to connect to their childhood while viewing the exhibition.

"I want people to think about parts of their past — the painful ones and the happy ones. Each painting is different. Some are sad, so you relate to it like heartbreak or the loss of a loved one. Others depict triumphs in life. I like people to connect, look at it and be like, 'I remember when I felt like that' or 'That makes me think of when I was 8 years old.'"

» Fine Arts and Artists Gallery, 2920 M St. NW; through May 3, 202-965-0780.

Written by Express contributor John Murph
Photo courtesy Fine Arts and Artists

Posted by Express at 12:01 AM on April 25, 2008
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