John Zurier's Paintings Explore Particularity at Peter Blum Gallery

John Zurier's exhibition at Peter Blum Gallery's new 57th Street space in New York City ran from April 25 to June 22, 2013. The show featured 12 paintings, with 11 dated 2012 or 2013 and one from 2007. A critical observation noted that smaller works like 'Sorgin' (21 by 15 inches) possessed greater particularity and memorability than larger pieces such as 'Öxnadalur' (72 by 44 inches). The 2007 painting 'Oblaka (for Mark)' (38 by 31 inches, oil on linen) displayed a pale bluish film scraped over viridian green. 'A spring a thousand years ago' (glue tempera on cotton) presented a landscape structure through watery slate blue brushwork. 'Mosfellsbœr' (distemper and oil on linen) incorporated puckered fabric into its composition. The largest paintings, 'Hellnar' and 'Härnevi' (both 108 by 75 inches, distemper on linen), were described as nearly monochrome and placid. The compact work 'After Paolo Schiavo' (17 by 21 inches) created expansive space with blue-black variations and a concrete horizontal stroke. The analysis connected particularity to concepts from Michael Fried and John Waters, emphasizing physical constitution over intellectual statements.