Commentary
By his own words creating Geolomorphosis is a metamorphosis of the stone itself. Stone and unearthed man-made objects decayed and aged with patinas only time can paint come to life and continue to live in another incarnation.
Old rocks become butterflies that emerge into a new dimension. This is absolute metaphysics!
-Chief-Curator Elana Prasolova, RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF ART MUSEUM, St. Petersburg
__________________________________________
“Davidson has maintained an intrigue with the found object over the years culminating in the production of superior assembled artwork. The ironical, whimsical and extraordinary qualities of the found objects presents a humorous dialogue, playful spirit and contemplative response to our culture through the iconography and processes of (de) constructed assemblage.”
-William C. Maxwell, MAXWELL FINE ARTS, Peekskil NY.
__________________________________________
“Charles Davidson’s found objects have Surrealist tendencies and have perfected skills at assembling some of the sorriest looking junk one might ever come across.”
-D. Dominick Lombardi, ART REVIEWS, NY TIMES
__________________________________________
“Expressing a social/environmental reunification through transformation, Davidson’s works rejuvenate disgarded and lifeless objects with new purpose, interactions and dependencies.”
-ORENSANZ FOUNDATION, NYC.
__________________________________________
"...Zenlike, one could say. A twisted log with a bolt running through it. Shovels of stuff attached to the wall. A series of elegantly shaped feet from old clawfoot tubs, sat upright with hats on that match their womanly names or, in one case, the image of Chairman Mao."
-Paul Smart, WOODSTOCK TIMES
__________________________________________
The amazing interrelationships of Davidson's discoveries result in highly involving abstract to literal constructions.
-Dick Pollich, YELLOW BIRD GALLERY, Newburg NY
__________________________________________
Talking about the exhibit featuring selected art works from the "American Archives" at the Empire State Building, Mr. Davidson says, "Its history, its symbolism, its spirit, its architecture is so magnificent, so American. I feel "American Archives has found its proper home." We agree!
-THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING MAIN ENTRANCE GALLERY, NYC
__________________________________________
An apt description of Charles Davidson is that of an archeo-recycler who uses his finds as a palette. Texture, form and subject of unearthed and found objects stimulate his ingenuity.
“Time, environment and circumstance integrate desperate objects through oxidation, mineralization and deterioration, eventually returning most things to their original and mutual components. The aging of materials exposed to the elements is a transitional process, a form of deconstruction and unification," says Davidson.
Objects from our past involve our senses. Old things smell old. Aromas and deterioration only time can paint are reference points on the AMERICAN ARCHIVES timeline giving us a 'sense' of history. This awareness adds an emotional context to historical information, relating us to the feeling of our past not just the subject of it," say Davidson
The AMERICAN ARCHIVE constructions express messages: words, visuals, textures and colors. Diversity of the artifacts become the building blocks for Davidson's imagination. Davidson assembles these bits of antiquity into experiences from America's past. AUTO for example puts the viewer behind the wheel.
The objects were gathered from antique shops, estate sales, flea markets and garage sales. Davidson defined thematic categories for his materials, storing objects by subjects, textures, forms and materials in containers as if they were separate tubes of paint ready for application. "Each work has a story to tell. Most stories I discovered through the materials and objects themselves," says Davidson.
Davidson was born in Los Angeles, California. He began his fine arts education at Otis Art Institute on a drawing schalorship and graduated the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. Davidson moved to Philadelphia in 1965 and worked as an Art Director for NW Ayer Advertising in the mid 1960's. "It was Philadelphia that sparked my interest in America's past. I would dig up artifacts along Front Street and buy artifacts on Pine Street. It wasn't long before I put the two together," says Davidson.
The distinguished American Historian/Author, Lincoln Diamant defined Davidson's constructions as, "...a party for the eyes!"
-IDEA MAGAZINE, JAPAN