VAM galleries including this work:
Jacobs Collection at Georgetown College | Do You See a Pattern? | What’s in a Name? | Young at Art || VAM Home

The Clash is an angular, geometric artwork. Russell Bellamy uses arrows, angles, and repetitive lines to create a sense of movement in the work. The circle, which is seen several times in the painting and is often a symbol for life, is a predominant theme throughout Bellamy’s work. The geometric shapes and the simplicity of lines on the canvas seem reminiscent of ancient cave paintings or a secret symbolic language.

About the Artist

Inspired by the minimalism of Frank Stella (American painter and sculptor, b. 1936) and the modernist lines of David Smith (American sculptor, 1906-1965), Georgetown College graduate Russell Bellamy creates labyrinth-like compositions of shapes, symbols, and lines. “The work started as an experiment in using a welder to burn lines and/or images through metal,” he says. “The process went through many trials before I found the best ways to realize my ideas.”

Classroom Ideas

Discussion: What patterns or shapes do you see repeated in The Clash? Are the symbols in this painting purely decorative, or do you think they have meaning? Describe the color scheme used. How do the colors influence the mood of the painting? Does this piece have balance and/or symmetry? Why or why not? Does this piece resemble the Native American and African weavings in the Kentucky Virtual Art Museum collections? If so, how?

Activity: In the medium of your choice, create a design that incorporates repetitive lines, geometric shapes, and common symbols, using three colors.

Links

Read an artist’s statement by Bellamy and see another of his works on the Kentucky Arts Council site.
[www.kyarts.org/whtsnew/2k3vision/bellamy.htm]

Consult the Artcyclopedia for information on two of Bellamy’s influences: Frank Stella and David Smith.
[www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/stella_frank.html]
[www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/smith_david.html]