Bending Zones & Shifting Accents (Magician’s Hand II) 2006

Gary Wragg’s large painting, Bending Zones & Shifting Accents, also known as Magician’s Hand II, explodes with bright colors and restless energy. I can imagine him wrestling with the canvas, layering oranges, blues, greens, and purples, building up a surface that seems to vibrate. Look at how the red lines arc and crisscross, almost like electrical currents, pulling the different zones together. What was he thinking, what was he trying to catch? Maybe a fleeting feeling, a half-formed thought? It reminds me of de Kooning’s messy exuberance or maybe Joan Mitchell’s lyrical chaos, but with its own distinct flavor. Artists are always in conversation with each other, riffing on each other's moves, and finding their own voice in the mix. For me, this painting isn't about answers, but about the joy of exploration and the endless possibilities of paint.