Wayne Forte's Bold Work Comes to Reynolds

“Excavating the Image: Biblical Subjects by Wayne Forte,” featuring the powerful, monumental paintings and charcoal drawings of Orange County-based Forte, opens Aug. 18 in Reynolds Gallery.

The show, which runs through Oct. 18, is the first exhibit of the 2003-04 academic year. An opening reception, which is free and open to the public, is 3-5 p.m. Sept. 6 in the Westmont Art Center.

The exhibit is a selection of large-scale paintings and drawings of biblical subjects completed over the past 16 years. The pieces range from narratives to liturgical pieces to updated reinterpretations of old master works. Throughout his work, the artist explores the relevancy of the Bible as a source for contemporary art.

“I initiate the creation of a painting, but soon the work takes on its own momentum and starts to feed its energy and ideas back to me,” Forte says. “The painting guides me. This is what sustains me as an artist. This is what keeps me going. This is my reward.”

Forte graduated from San Marcos High School in 1968 and attended UCSB from 1968 to 1971. He received his bachelor and master’s degrees in fine arts from the University of California at Irvine. He has professionally exhibited his work since 1970, and many private and corporate collections have pieces, including the Vatican Museum. He has been featured in more than 19 solo shows. Forte judged Reynolds Gallery’s recent juried show “About Face.”

A 64-page, full-color catalog of the show will be for sale throughout the show and afterward, while supplies last.

Gallery hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For additional information, contact Reynolds Gallery at (805) 565-6162 or reynolds@westmont.edu.