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There is a long tradition of artists paying mimetic homage to their predecessors. Early on in western traditions it has been standard practice for young artists to “copy” the masters to learn and build on their art historical lineage. Sharon Core continues this tradition by reinterpreting this mannerist approach and creating a stunning body of work based on Bay Area artist Wayne Thiebaud’s early food paintings. Upon entering the gallery you are surrounded by pies, hot dogs, cold cuts and cake shimmering in rich cool and luscious colors. Core has constructed actual still life compositions after Thiebaud’s paintings rendered in detail and to scale. Each of Core’s photographs conveys all the attributes of painterly lusciousness and cool coffee counter culture colors associated with Thiebaud. The effect is both joyful and hunger inducing. Core, through her elaborate endeavor to set the scene, has culled all the attributes of “painterly representation” which are so appealing and yet she does this with a medium often associated with an emotionally removed photographer’s eye. Unlike Andreas Gursky, who creates an abstraction of reality; Sharon Core manipulates her subject matter, building it like a sculptor. Rather than radically altering the source in the way that Vik Muniz might render a Jackson Pollock with chocolate syrup, Core stays true to the source and still manages to allow her own voice to come through. With a slather of cake frosting or a dramatic tromploiel shadow she reinforces the flatness associated with Thiebaud’s work. These photographs are using all the language of the strongest Thiebaud while evolving Core’s own visual vocabulary. Earlier works by Core hanging in the back room show a series of portraits of her inebriated friends. Unlike Nan Goldin’s parade of drunken and drugged out friends, Core’s drunks are depicted in stunning up close headshots. Like Chuck Close’s big heads, the feeling is more confrontational and the recognition of inebriation is more candid than the documentarian approach used employed by Goldin. Core, is a young artist whose efforts have produced a strong body of work that truly stands on the shoulders of giants who precede her. Through her endeavors she appears to see above the fold and beyond to establish her own voice and vision. By Andrew Robinson This review was written for the Gay City News, New York City Exhibition Information Sharon Core, “Thiebauds” February 13 to March 22, 2004 |
 Cakes, 2003, C-Print , 60" x 72"  Delicatessen Counter 2003 C-Print, 30" x 36,"  Pies, Pies, Pies 2003 C-Print, 20" x 30"  Malorie from the series "Drunk" 1998-2000 C-Print, 24" x 20" Images Courtesy Bellwether Gallery , Brooklyn, New York |