a solo exhibition
Crossing the Boundary examines the symbols in Rick Bartow’s work that reflect his exploration of the balance between life and death. Over the course of Bartow’s long career, he highlighted a myriad of richly symbolic subjects from his Wiyot culture, as well as symbols from music, the places he visited, books he read, and most often his personal experiences. Bartow was always in touch with the natural world and very frequently included animals as his subjects, often canines: dogs, coyotes and wolves.
Within the Wiyot culture, the character of Coyote is a teacher, but also someone not to be fully trusted– an archetypal trickster figure. Straddling the line between light and dark, the lessons Coyote taught were often hard, but necessary. Rick Bartow embodies this trickster in his work. He embraces the full spectrum of light. He tackles the darkness within the spirit, while using color and form to create beauty from that transformational place.
Dogs in Bartow’s work were omens and symbols of crossing the boundary. In the mixed media painting on canvas “Dog, Dog, Dog” Bartow is referencing a particular incident during his uncle’s passing. Bartow and his uncle were very close, and as his uncle was in the hospital he said he saw a dog in the room. After some thought, Bartow came to see that the dog was there to guide his uncle to the other side. Bartow captured that powerful and emotional encounter in this chanting, singing dog, energetically calling to the viewer to make its presence known–to be both here and there.
In Crossing the Boundary, you will see many of Rick Bartow’s symbols that allude to this journey of embracing both dark and light, death and life, encouraging one to look within and to connect with the power of spirit. Bartow’s work is saturated with this theme, in color, symbol, and marks, bringing a genuine presence to the room that is deep and expansive and uniquely Rick Bartow.
Exhibition Dates:
March 2, 2023 - April 1, 2023Involved Artists:
Rick Bartow
Featured Works
-
Rick BartowDog Dog Dog (2014)Acrylic on Canvas
- 36"h
- 48"w
$28,000 -
Rick BartowDaydream of Dog (2009)Limited Edition Drypoint Etching on Handmade Mitsumata Paper
- 11"h
- 10"w
$500 -
Rick BartowCoyote & Leda (1991)Pastel on Paper
- 36"h
- 60"w
$35,000 -
Rick BartowStep Light (2015)Limited Edition Drypoint on Kozo Paper
- 12.38"h
- 19"w
$900 -
Rick BartowMask (2013)Carved and Singed Wood, Wooden Dowels
- 17"h
- 12"w
- 5"d
$15,000 -
Rick BartowKirin Lily: Shinpukuji Portfolio (2007)Graphite, Mixed Media on Vintage Japanese Handmade Paper, Conservation Framed
- 30.63"h
- 24.63"w
$7,700 -
Rick BartowAlways Going (2000)Limited Edition Drypoint Etching
- 12"h
- 9"w
$900 -
Rick BartowOld White Tail (2005)Limited Edition Drypoint Etching
- 15.75"h
- 11.38"w
$900 -
Rick BartowSong Approaching (2012)Limited Edition Drypoint Etching
- 7.63"h
- 5"w
$500 -
Rick BartowHMB 3: Coyote and Leonardo’s Anatomy (2007)Graphite, Gouache and Ink on Handmade Japanese Paper
- 33.5"h
- 23.75"w
$7,000 -
Rick BartowC=Crow (2015)Limited Edition Drypoint on Handmade Mitsumata Paper
- 7"h
- 6"w
$500 -
Rick BartowDignity/Grace II (2000)Limited Edition Drypoint Etching
- 36"h
- 17"w
SOLD -
Rick BartowSelf (1984)Pastel and Graphite on Paper, Conservation Framed
- 27.63"h
- 23.13"w
$7,450 -
Rick BartowElder (2015)Limited Edition Drypoint on Handmade Gampi Sukijiimai Paper
- 15.63"h
- 22"w
$1,200 -
Rick BartowFirst Vision (2003)Limited Edition Drypoint on Handmade Mitsumata Paper
- 9.75"h
- 7.38"w
$500 -
Rick BartowHunter’s Dream (1999)Limited Edition Drypoint Etching on Handmade Japanese Paper
- 11.75"h
- 8.5"w
$500 -
Rick BartowPlagl (2000)Limited Edition Drypoint Etching on Handmade Japanese Paper
- 9"h
- 12"w
SOLD -
Rick BartowSparrow Study 2 (2008)Drypoint Etching on Handmade Japanese Paper
- 15.5"h
- 11.5"w
SOLD -
Rick BartowMemory (2009)Limited Edition Drypoint on Dyed Okawara Paper
- 11"h
- 10"w
$600 -
Rick BartowBear Coming (2009)Limited Edition Drypoint on Handmade Mitsumata Paper
- 11"h
- 10"w
$500 -
Rick BartowBBJ Amaryllis (1999)Limited Edition Drypoint Etching
- 12"h
- 17.18"w
$1,000 -
Rick BartowRed Legs Coyote Story (2006)Monotype with Acrylic, Gouache, Watercolor and Graphite
- 30"h
- 22"w
$9,000 -
Rick BartowAmaryllis 4 (1997)Graphite, Gouache and Mixed Media on Handmade Japanese Paper, Conservation Framed
- 23.63"h
- 20.13"w
$4,925 -
Rick BartowR-1: From the Shinpukuji Portfolio (2007)Graphite, Gouache and Ink on Paper
- 33.5"h
- 23.5"w
$7,000 -
Rick BartowLanding (2013)Pastel and Graphite on Paper, Conservation Framed
- 46"h
- 32"w
$18,950 -
Rick BartowLB 1: From the Shinpukuji Portfolio (2007)Graphite, Gouache and Ink on Paper
- 33.5"h
- 23.5"w
$7,000 -
Rick BartowCrow Waiting (1992)Monotype, Conservation Framed
- 48"h
- 33.63"w
$15,500 -
Rick BartowKestrel for the Nile for Jim M. (2007)Monotype on Rives BFK
- 30"h
- 22"w
SOLD -
Rick BartowHawk II / Red X (1992)Monotype, Conservation Framed
- 51"h
- 36.5"w
$15,500 -
Rick BartowWoman and Box (1998)Limited Edition Drypoint Etching
- 14"h
- 10.75"w
$500 -
Rick BartowAutobiographical (1994)Pastel and Graphite on Paper, Conservation Framed
- 46"h
- 32.13"w
$18,900 -
Rick BartowSie und Tod (1998)Limited Edition Drypoint Etching
- 13"h
- 10.25"w
$500 -
Rick BartowOgiya Lily 2: Shinpukuji Portfolio (2007)Graphite, Mixed Media on Vintage Handmade Japanese Paper
- 26.5"h
- 20.5"w
$7,000 -
Rick BartowLook Within (1999)Limited Edition Drypoint Etching
- 12"h
- 8.5"w
SOLD -
Rick BartowFlowers for Horst Janssen (1994)Graphite and Colored Pencil on Paper
- 15"h
- 11"w
$2,800 -
Rick BartowLast Observation (2012)Limited Edition Drypoint Etching
- 9.25"h
- 9.5"w
SOLD -
Rick BartowToshiaki (2012)Limited Edition Drypoint Etching
- 8"h
- 9.5"w
SOLD -
Rick BartowSteller’s JayLimited Edition Drypoint Etching
- 15"h
- 10.63"w
$900 -
Rick BartowTaka (2006)Limited Edition Drypoint on Handmade Japanese Paper
- 15.5"h
- 11.5"w
$600 -
Rick BartowCrazy Raven (2003)Limited Edition Drypoint Etching
- 8.38"h
- 11.38"w
$700 -
Rick BartowHe Will Say He Knows Nothing (2003)Limited Edition Drypoint Etching
- 9.63"h
- 7"w
SOLD -
Rick BartowHawk Looks Twice – AP (2003)Hand-colored Drypoint Etching
- 11"h
- 10.75"w
$500 -
Rick BartowSouth Beach Hawk (2002)Limited Edition Linocut
- 9.63"h
- 7"w
SOLD -
Rick BartowFor Hyacinth (2000)Limited Edition Drypoint Etching
- 9.5"h
- 12"w
SOLD -
Rick BartowCrow Story (2009)Limited Edition Drypoint on Dyed Okawara Paper
- 11.5"h
- 10"w
$600 -
Rick BartowSueño Ginka (2001)Drypoint Etching
- 10"h
- 14"w
$900 -
Rick BartowEagle Portrait (2000)Limited Edition Drypoint Etching
- 9"h
- 12"w
$800 -
Rick BartowDignity/Grace I (2000)Limited Edition Drypoint Etching
- 24"h
- 17"w
$1,200 -
Rick BartowOrigin of Song 4 (2009)Limited Edition Drypoint
- 11.38"h
- 9.88"w
$600 -
Rick BartowMe and Him (2000)Limited Edition Drypoint Etching on Handmade Japanese Paper
- 11.5"h
- 18"w
$1,000