Vermont End (North), Variation B 2012

John Chiara’s *Vermont End (North), Variation B* looks like it was created in an embrace of uncertainty. It’s a photograph, but the light and shadow almost make it feel like a painting. I can imagine the artist working on it, patiently layering and adjusting to coax this image into being, maybe even allowing some mistakes, some unexpected effects, to remain as part of the finished piece. The green bleeds into the side of the image, softening the details and creating a hazy, dreamlike effect. The texture is smooth, almost velvety, which gives it a tactile, intimate quality. That wall-like form on the left is fascinating. It has this hulking presence. It reminds me of some of the minimalist sculptures, but with a twist. It suggests a conversation with artists like Donald Judd, but it also goes in its own direction, informed by Chiara’s unique perspective. The process reveals not only the scene but also the artist's way of seeing, of understanding, of feeling. And that's what makes it so engaging.