Museum gotta see ‘um

“ROCKS AND SAND”: VARIATIONS ON A THEME, PHOTOGRAPHS BY JAMEY BRZEZINSKI AT THE CALDWELL GALLERY IN REDWOOD CITY. Painter Jamey Brzezinski, whose work examines the line between Non-objective Abstraction and Realism, started his “Rocks and Sand” series in 1977 as prints — lithographs and etchings. This led him on a 40-year journey portraying gutters, curbs, sidewalks, landscaping, pools and decking of brick, flagstones and tile patterns from directly above, using an aerial perspective which both flattens the composition and enhances the 3D illusionary aspects. These views from above prolong the usually instantaneous act of perception when we recognize things in reality or in imagery. The paintings can be viewed with any of the four edges “UP” and are derived from the artist’s memory and imagination with no photographic references. He sometimes hangs the square ones diamond-like, with one corner “UP.” Over the decades, Brzezinski taught art for various Bay Area colleges and universities, including the College of San Mateo and Cañada College. “Rocks and Sand” by Jamey Brzezinski is on view at the Caldwell Gallery, 400 County Center in the Hall of Justice, Redwood City through Jan. 1, 2019.

Susan Cohn can be reached at susan@smdailyjournal.com or www.twitter.com/susancityscene.