FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DOUG MARTIN

New Paintings

January 31 - February 26, 1997

The Charles Cowles Gallery is pleased to announce an exhibition of new paintings by Doug Martin from January 31 through February 26, 1997. The Gallery is located at 420 West Broadway and the hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10am until 6pm. The artist will be at the Gallery on Saturday, February 1st, from 4-6pm.

In this, his second exhibition at the Charles Cowles Gallery, Doug Martin continues his series of unique landscapes depicting the Hudson River Valley and the Adirondack foothills. Originally an abstract painter, Martin has become interested in the 19th Century Hudson River School and the Luminist painters, and now splits his time between Upstate New York and New York City. Often painting on large canvases and using a muted palette with lively brushstrokes, Martin has captured the intense serenity of the Hudson School paintings while interpreting the landscape with an emotional sensitivity. All of Martin's paintings start out with direct observation; some are finished with an expressiveness and brevity, which demonstrate his abstract roots, others become fuller and more literal.

On many of the paintings, Doug Martin has mounted large topographical maps of the Hudson River area to his canvases. He then paints landscape over the maps, playing with the flowing lines of the geological features. In doing this, Martin creates a play between the flat linear element of the map and lush delicacy of the paint, all the while suggesting a dialogue on the essence of "landscape". In addition to these paintings, there will be smaller works on canvas available at the Gallery.

For further information or photographs please call (212) 925-3500.