Third Street Gallery archive: 2013 Exhibitions: Glass, Color, and Light Paintings by Demetri Mitsanas

Humboldt State University First Street Gallery is pleased to present, Glass, Color, and Light, a solo exhibition by painter Demetri Mitsanas on display through December 23rd.  Mitsanas is Professor Emeritus of Art at Humboldt State.  The exhibition features mixed media paintings of colorful still lifes. These compositions depict colored glassware and explore the relationship between light, color, and the transparent nature of glass.

Mitsanas sees light as “the representation of Spirit” and strives to capture the radiance within both the inanimate and the living. In this series of paintings, Mitsanas focuses on expressing the inner light of his compositions, producing subtle but powerful vibrations of color. He uses gold and silver leaf in his work, which reinforces the light reflected in his subjects. Mitsanas’ paintings are influenced by Gustav Klimt’s infatuation with color and texture and the symbolic iconography of the Greek Orthodox Christian painting tradition.

Mitsanas was born in Tripoli, Greece in the 1930’s where his education began. He immigrated to California in 1961 to pursue further education in the arts at San Francisco State University and UC Santa Barbara where he studied painting and art history. Mitsanas began his teaching career at Humboldt State University in 1968 where he led art history as well as studio art classes.  For a number of years Mitsanas also served as the Chair of the Art Department at Humboldt State.  Now retired, he continues to be active in his studio practice as well as directing the HSU Art Department’s Study Abroad Program in Greece.

Glass, Color, and Light, is produced by Humboldt State students. Students enrolled in the Art Museum and Gallery Practices Program participate in the daily management and planning of shows at the gallery.  The gallery provides real-life opportunities for the students to develop their gallery and museum skills, which in turn provides them with experience that will help them to enter the job market. Many students who have participated in the program have gone on to careers in museums and galleries throughout the nation.  

A reception for the artist will be held at HSU First Street Gallery on Saturday, December 7th, 2013 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. during Eureka’s monthly Arts Alive event.  Demetri Mitsanas will give a Gallery Talk at First Street Gallery on December 14th at 3 p.m.  The event is free and the public is invited to meet the artist as he guides you through his exhibition. The gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. and is located at 422 First Street Eureka, California. Will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. Admission is free. Those planning group tours are encouraged to call ahead. For more information call 707-443-6363.

Watch the Documentary

North Coast Journal review

Light as representation of Spirit – the desire to capture inner light is timeless. The painted, translucent marbles of the Greek Parthenon illuminated by sunsets and full moons are magical. The gold surfaces reflecting light of Asian antique screens in painted silk subtly vibrate. The surfaces of Greek Orthodox Christian mosaics and icons such as the Basilica of St. Marcus, Venice, and oriental still life mosaics, act as portals to the divine.

In the similar vein these paintings of arranged bottles, glasses, vases, and other minor glass objects are filled with colored liquid producing an architectural abstraction of luminosity that evokes sound vibrations.

These intricate compositions are made of reflecting surfaces, lines, curves, circles and ellipses. Illuminated from within, they flash deep-colored highlights back at us – glowing emerald green, rose cadmium with gold background, reminiscent of the sumptuous paintings of Gustav Klimt.

Demetri Mitsanas
Fall, 2013