02.16.2011
Burdette Ketchum Creative Director Showcases Artwork at Williams-Cornelius Gallery
Patrick Golden skilled with both paintbrush and computer mouse
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Patrick Golden, principal and creative director for Burdette Ketchum, is more than a gifted art director – he also is a talented mixed-media artist whose work is now on display at the Williams-Cornelius Gallery.
Williams-Cornelius’ Beautiful Ugly exhibit, running Feb. 8 through March 11, features new work by artists Golden and Rebecca Davisson. Golden's 26 mixed-media pieces – a combination of acrylic paint and photography – tell the "beautiful/ugly" story of Russia's infamous Romanov family. The paintings balance the beauty of the family's extravagant lives with the ugliness of their tragic ending at the hands of their captors.
"In Western culture, we tend to separate beauty and ugliness, joy and tragedy," said Golden. "This exhibit celebrates the union of the two; when foiled against tragedy, the beautiful shines all the more brightly." As a child growing up in Northampton, Mass., Golden was mentored in fine art by his grandfather. He later studied fine art and graphic art at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla., where he graduated with a degree in graphic design. Golden last exhibited his artwork 22 years ago on Flagler’s campus.
"Whether computer generated or created by hand, art is a form of storytelling," said Golden. "In my work as a creative director, I rely on the same artistic skills to tell a client's story. My background in fine art has made me a better storyteller, either on canvas or a computer screen."
Golden's pieces in the Beautiful Ugly exhibit feature dynamic jewel tones – green, blue and bright persimmon – under "fleshy" cream colors, creating a soothing palette with quick markings and brushstrokes. The pieces range in price from $175 to $3,700.