Los Angeles artist, Ron Griffin's abstract paintings aren't actually abstrac-
tions, but the culmination of a process of meticulous representation of
flattened, found paper objects. In his previous body of work, the "Black
Paintings," a few diaphanous white forms seemed to float on surfaces of
highly polished black gesso. The sensuous, curving shapes were depictions
of the crumpled and folded toilet-seat covers found in public restrooms.

In his newest group of paintings he continues to explore the formal issues
of tissue paper forms on a black ground. Now, however, he layers the
depictions densely, creating modulated fields of translucent white and
gray. References to Duchamp, Man Ray, Pollock and Ryman abound but the
elegant work is trompe l'oeil Pop art at its best.

related article:
A painter finds uncommon depth in flatness
by Kenneth Baker
San Francisco Chronicle

Nelleke Beltjens, a young artist from The Netherlands, makes formalist
sculptures of steel and concrete or wood and plaster. The diminutive
works in this show are about relationships. Together, two separate,
interlocking steel forms make one piece. Another piece is made from
concrete and steel, fused. In yet another, lines of intense color run
vein-like through a white plaster form. Over and over Beltjens explores
spaces between forms and the interface of contrasting material, creating
relationships between the unrelated and raising the questions, "What
separates? What makes a whole?"