LISA YAMADA
Staff Writer
Growing up in sun-soaked Venice, Craig Kaufman became heavily influenced by the radical surf culture that surrounded him. An artist, he started to move away from the traditional medium of paint and canvas by experimenting with the materials he knew best: the glossy textures and fluid curves of his surfboard. His piece, “Yellow-Blue,” is displayed as a part of the Weisman Museum’s “Made In California” exhibit. It is quintessential California, an exceptional piece of sun and surf that shines brighter than the rest.
The exhibit features a selection of works by California artists celebrating the state’s diverse culture— but it is Kaufman’s use of color and texture that will hypnotize viewers, causing all eyes to turn toward the magnificently vivid piece.
He fashions the piece with a vacu-form technique, shaping acrylic plastic over a mold to achieve the desired shape. The glossy acrylic reminiscent of the fiberglass coating on surfboards catches and reflects in the light, with an effect of brightness and clarity traditional oil and acrylic paints are not able to achieve. Compared to his, the other pieces seem dull and listless— despite using bright neon paints and bold contrast.
The background of the piece is a cheery, warm yellow, and the electric blue shape in the foreground is outlined by two neon orange lines: a perfect blending of the ocean’s clear, blue water and the sun’s yellow rays. The shape appears to be a rainy, weather cloud. In spite of the rain, however, nothing can spoil the perfection of California. Even when it’s raining, it’s still—always—sunny.
But behind the vivid playfulness, Kaufman seems to be saying something deeper, something darker about California culture. The brightness seems almost too bright, the plasticity of the piece artificial— which is still apparent in California’s society today.
Living in Venice, the ultimate surf town in the ‘60s, Kaufman saw the artificiality that this surf culture concealed. Here is where radical new moves developed— notably the infamous Lords of Dogtown. But behind the revolutionary skateboarding; behind the sunny, surf culture; Venice was also very dark, notorious for rebellion, drug-use and wild partying.
His “Yellow-Blue” captures the hypocritical California cool during this time. But under the blanket of sun and warmth are flaws, hidden behind the sun-shining façade.
Still, “Yellow-Blue” is a visual delight of color. Playful and fun, it is the epitome of California culture: Where sand, sun and surf collide and explode onto a canvas of glossy acrylic.
11-26-2007
