ERIK DEN BREEJEN JIM TOROK

WORDJanuary 11 - February 24, 2013

Erik den BreejenIt’s a Dirty World II, 2012

acrylic on canvas42 x 54 inches

49 N. Dean Street, Englewood, NJ 07631 T 201 266 5244 OneRiverGallery.comY

ERIK DEN BREEJEN JIM TOROKWORD

Press ReleaseDecember 31, 2012

For Immediate Release:

One River Gallery Announces Upcoming Exhibition, Word, a two-person exhibition featuring work by Erik den Breejen and Jim Torok.

WordErik den Breejen, Jim Torok

January 11th – February 24th, 2013Opening reception: Friday, January 11, 7-10 PM

Englewood, NJ—One River Gallery is excited to announce Word, a two-person exhibition featuring work by Erik Den Breejen and Jim Torok. The exhibition will be accompanied by an online catalog.

Few artists take on the challenge of incorporating written text as the impetus for their work—the fixed meaning of words in some way limits interpretation, causing artists to risk making too literal a statement. A set of rules guides language in a way that typically does not apply within the realm of visual art. Eric den Breejen and Jim Torok are two Brooklyn based artists who navigate this tricky territory and explore the use of text as a visual language in different ways.

ERIK DEN BREEJEN JIM TOROK

Erik den Breejen chronicles his passion for music on canvas, reinterpreting song lyrics—the language of music—as a visual language. An accomplished musician himself, den Breejen employs lyrics by Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and the Beach Boys among others, to serve as visual elements that are crucial to the compositional structure of his paintings. By using words as blocks that visually compose an image, den Breejen’s paintings function on both a literary and visual level. Obsessive fandom is complemented by a calculated approach to painting, as seen through the meticulous detail and labored precision with which den Breejen puts down the word-blocks. den Breejen’s tributes to his musical heros provides a nostalgic experience that forces the viewer to re-engage visually with songs and musicians in a way not seen since music buffs scrubbed every millimeter of an LP cover.

Jim Torok is known for his narrative storyboard, cartoon-like paintings that are based on observations of the world around him. Rooted in a comic sensibility, Torok weaves stories and concepts that often blend humor with a flair of Andy Rooney-esque flavor. His free associations have a lyrical quality of their own right---not in the music sense but more in the form of a short story, one-person play where each artwork is a scene in itself.

Erik den Breejen was born in Berkeley, California in 1976. He studied at UC Santa Cruz and California College of the Arts, where he received a BFA in painting in 1999. Den Breejen moved to New York in 2000, receiv-ing an MFA in painting from Cornell University in 2006. His work is concerned with the relationship of text, image, and music. He lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

Jim Torok was born in Indiana in 1954 and received an MFA from Brooklyn College in 1981. His work has appeared in gallery and museum exhibitions across the US for the past twenty years. Jim’s work is part of the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in addition to many important private collections around the world. Jim lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

Erik den BreejenGood Times Comin’ Slow, 2009

acrylic on panel, 13 x 10.5 inCourtesy of the artist and Freight + Volume

Erik den BreejenBook of Love I, 2012

acrylic on canvas, 37 x 26 inCourtesy of the artist and Freight + Volume

Erik den BreejenYou’re Trying Too Hard, 2010acrylic on canvas, 24 x 18in

Courtesy of the artist and Freight + Volume

Jim TorokYou Are a Vibrant Human Being, 2010

acrylic on panel, 27 x 20 inCourtesy of the artist and Pierogi Gallery

Erik den BreejenThe Book of Love II, 2012

acrylic on canvas, 37.5 x 30.5 inCourtesy of the artist and Freight + Volume

Jim TorokDon’t Give Up Okay, 2010

acrylic on panel, 60 x 47.25 inCourtesy of the artist and Pierogi Gallery

Erik den BreejenWeeping Song, 2009

acrylic on canvas, 28 x 26 inCourtesy of the artist and Freight + Volume

Jim TorokA Brief History of the 21st Century, 2007

acrylic on panel, 48 x 60 inCourtesy of the artist and Pierogi Gallery

Erik den BreejenSmile II, 2011

acrylic on canvas, 94.5 x 76.5 inCourtesy of the artist and Freight + Volume

Erik den BreejenSmile II (detail), 2011

acrylic on canvas, 94.5 x 76.5 inCourtesy of the artist and Freight + Volume

Erik den BreejenThe Dirty Jobs, 2009

acrylic on canvas, 48 x 36 inCourtesy of the artist and Freight + Volume

Jim TorokYou’re Not So Bad, 2010

acrylic on panel, 19 x 25 inCourtesy of the artist and Pierogi Gallery

One River Gallery is dedicated to presenting the most innovative exhibitions in New Jersey. Our program focuses on emerging artists who are prepared to participate on the New York art stage, while also presenting important projects from mid career artists who have already built a brand there. The space is also home to One River School of Art and Design, a new direction in art and digital design and continuing education. Focused on the importance of lifelong creative learning, One River School offers a wide variety of classes and programs for all ages. Working together, One River Gallery and School will introduce leading artists and curators to the public in New Jersey, providing valuable insight and education into the forefront of contemporary art.

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