Rackstraw Downes discusses painting philosophy amid 2010 exhibition trifecta

In the summer of 2010, Rackstraw Downes is showcasing three exhibitions: drawings at Betty Cuningham Gallery through July 30, paintings at Parrish Art Museum until August 8 (which will then travel nationwide), and works at Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum until January 2, 2011. Downes specializes in intricate urban landscapes created on-site, intentionally moving away from traditional perspective. He attended Yale in the early 1960s, studying alongside notable artists like Alex Katz, Al Held, Richard Serra, Chuck Close, and Nancy Graves. He makes a clear distinction between his spontaneous oil sketches and completed paintings, choosing not to display them together. His subjects feature New Jersey's Millennium Park and Red Hook Park. Downes acknowledges Fairfield Porter and Rudy Burckhardt as influential mentors and reflects on a significant experience in Maine related to shadows.