Ryan Molenkamp / Jed Dunkerley

Press Release
October 2017

October 5-28, 2017
First Thursday: Oct 5, 6-8 pm

Artist Talk: Saturday Oct 21, Noon
Dialogue between Ryan Molenkamp and Jed Dunkerley

“Vancouver! Vancouver! This Is It!”

Seattle artist Ryan Molenkamp continues his series of stunning graphic representations of mountainous regions and volcanoes as he explores the natural phenomena of the Pacific Northwest. The mixture of flat bold color and directional lines leads the viewer through a landscape fraught with potential danger. The 1980 Mt. St. Helen’s eruption referred to in Molenkamp’s exhibition title is more than apt given Mt. Rainier’s looming presence on the horizon from many vantage points in Seattle.

Molenkamp entered college bent on studying geology but ended up re-creating natural forms through his art. Using layers of intense color and mind-bending perspective to suggest scenes that evoke place, his paintings also function as enigmatic abstractions. In this innovative approach to landscape, colorful forms are strewn across the various landscapes in ways that reference topographical data. The cool, detached look of modern digital technology informs Molenkamp's use of "hard edges, sharp lines [that] remind one of computer generated topographical data" (Seattle Times, July 11, 2014).

A graduate of Western Washington University (BFA), Molenkamp's has shown regionally for many years and is collected widely. His paintings have been included in group shows in New York, Oregon, and Wisconsin. His dynamic and colorful work graced the cover of a Bumbershoot poster in 2016.

Linda Hodges Gallery is pleased to formally introduce the work of Seattle painter Jed Dunkerley to the community as part of the gallery roster. Dunkerley tackles difficult subjects, such as environmental destruction and habitat encroachment. Holding back on the blame game, the artist manages to get his points across without the didactic lecturing. Colorful and often humorous, his detailed and meticulous gouaches and acrylics juxtapose machines with natural landscapes, buildings with rolling seas, and stream rollers with vacation beaches. This is a timely and empathetic show about the current state of our environmental crisis.

A key member of the “Out of Sight” satellite exhibition crew as well as a member of the PDL collective (Jed, Jason Puccinelli, Greg Lundgren), Dunkerley has shown throughout the region and teaches art at Franklin High School.