Ray Wirtz

Seattle artist Ray Wirtz delves into personal history in "Chronology of an American Boy," a series of large-scale acrylic and collage paintings rendered in a retro modernist via ash-can school style. Inspired by his school yearbook photos, Wirtz has created vibrant portraits that chart his growth into manhood. Weaving stylized text into the backgrounds of each painting, he projects the trials and complexities of boyhood. What appears at first to be the mottled backdrop of a school photograph eventually reveals itself as Ray's personal mantra, with hidden messages such as "I must not blame myself" and "I hate baseball" coming into sharp focus.

"Chronology of an American Boy" opens on Thursday, September 6, 2001 with an ice cream reception between 6-9pm. Also showing are prints by Bert Menco.

"Grade 3" mixed media 32" x 40"