Renewal 1977

Friedel Dzubas made this painting, “Renewal,” with, as far as I can tell, just paint and maybe a big brush, a squeegee or even just a rag. It’s like he’s pushing around big, soft clouds of color. The surface has this lovely, almost suede-like texture, where the paint is thin, staining the canvas like dye, yet dense enough to hold its shape. Take a look at that yellow area at the bottom, how it bleeds softly into the orange background. The colours are soft and muted, giving it a peaceful vibe, like a landscape but not quite. It’s a feeling more than a picture. Dzubas reminds me of Helen Frankenthaler in his embrace of the accidental, the beauty of the stain. Both were exploring a conversation about what painting could be, pushing the boundaries of color and form in a way that still feels fresh today. It’s this kind of openness that makes art so endlessly fascinating.