Traveler with Copper Receptacle 2006

Here we have Stefan Caltia's Traveler with Copper Receptacle. Look how the figure and the tree seem to emerge from the pale blue ground. Caltia builds his forms with layers of thin, washy paint, like watercolor almost. Notice how the figure is both flat and dimensional. Is it a ghost or an angel? Is it a dream? I think of Philip Guston’s late work. The forms aren’t precise; they’re a bit clumsy. Like the painting isn't quite sure what it's supposed to be, which gives the piece its charm. And the wings! One is a study in browns and greys, while the other bursts with muted reds and pinks, like a bruise. Caltia’s traveler reminds me that art is like a conversation, artists borrowing and responding to each other across time. It’s okay if we don’t have all the answers. Sometimes, the questions are the most interesting part.