14.11.10

Enrico Donati- Weinstein Gallery, de Young Museum San Francisco

Enrico Donati is considered one of the original surrealist artists- A group which included among others Salvador Dali, Andre Breton, Max Ernst, Marcel Duchamp and Alexander Calder.  Mr. Donati died about two years ago at the age of 99 after a cab accident from which he never fully recovered.  During his career he reinvented his artistic genres to include Constructivism and Abstract Expressionism. 
Showing now at the Weinstein Gallery in San Fransisco’s Union square is an exhibition of works from his later years.  His focus seemed to have shifted to an examination of geometric shapes and layering and texture.  He often mixed paint with glue and a variety of grains such as dust, dirt, soot, sand, coffee grounds and was even known to use the contents of this vacuum cleaner. 

The works at the Weinstein Gallery are exceptional in that they were the works that he chose to keep in his personal collection until the end of his life. In many ways this exhibition is not just the grand epithet of Donati but of Surrealism.  Donati is the last surviving member of one of the most remarkable art movements of the twentieth century.

There are a few of Mr. Donati’s works at the de Young Gallery which is located in Golden Gate Park in SF.  These last two are on show there.


19 comments:

essbesee said...

I love Ernst, Duchamp and Calder (and know Dali obviously) but must admit I don't know Donati. Anyone who can work the contents of their vacuum cleaner into art I need to check out. per usual, you enlighten me lady.

mermaid gallery said...

texture! brilliant texture...subtle color...really nice work! great to see paintings that are pushing the boundaries of our imagination....must have been a great show! best, Susan

Mia said...

Looks like one not to miss if you can get there. Thanks for the intro - sad to say I had not heard of him but I like what I see with the combining of colour and texture. Thankyou once more!

Julia, the Thanksgiving Girl said...

I'm not that much into surrealism but I do love the happy feeling and vibe those paintings grace the viewer with!

Unknown said...

New to Donati as well...liking what I see here, thanks for the intro!

k said...

Oh wow...I'm loving what he's doing with all the color, I like the shot of the whole gallery - very cool!

Jude said...

I love seeing all his work together like this. The second one and that sculpture are just wonderful - thanks for sharing this artist with us! A terrific thing to see on my Monday. :)

Jude said...

I love seeing all his work together like this. The second one and that sculpture are just wonderful - thanks for sharing this artist with us! A terrific thing to see on my Monday. :)

Lenore @ Lather. Write. Repeat. said...

Those paintings are so unique with the mixed materials! Thanks for exposing me to them!

XO
Lenore

Ninjagaiden78 said...

I like the first piece, very interesting.

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drollgirl said...

i was just at the de young museum a few weeks ago! it is such an amazing building! i wish i could have seen all of the works, including these two!

and flowers pick themselves said...

oooh, very interesting. i like the texture.

xo Alison

A Crimson Kiss said...

Must, must get to the Weinstein-his works are so unique, and I would love a chance to get up close to them!

Stacey said...

Great intro to Donati! I love the fist piece that seems to be holding eyes...? or maybe it has eyes...

LenoreNeverM♡re said...

Amazing color & texture!
Thanks for the tour!!

msihua said...

HmMmm... I'm not quite sure I like surrealist art... it doesn't quite speak to me :(

Anna Emilia said...

To me they look like maps. The last one has an erupting volcano in it (:

Thank you dear Ren being part of my small winter game!

Happy November Tuesday!

Pat Tillett said...

So beautiful!
I love his work!

Stephanie said...

These are amazing.
Thank you for sharing this!

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