OFFSITE Cory Oberndorfer: Beta Fla-Vor (after Louis)

For the fourth iteration of WPA-organized presentations at the Shinola store on 14th Street NW, Cory Oberndorfer presents Beta Fla-Vor (after Louis), a new six-panel painting built from the abandoned panels of several former works and reconfigured to evoke Morris Louis’ early unfurled paintings from 1960. However, viewed in post-election Washington, the painting can be understood as the toppling of the columns of civilization.

The painting is accompanied by a museum-style panel, written by the artist, which reads:

Beta Fla-Vor (after Louis)
Acrylic on canvas
Courtesy of the artist
SDCWPA.2016.1

In Beta Fla-Vor (after Louis), Oberndorfer creates lines of pure color on raw canvas. The natural fluidity of the paint has been frozen in place for each brightly colored ribbon of flavor. The expanse of raw space left open only accentuates the exuberant color. This project has been generously supported by Shinola, a producer of high-quality, hand-crafted products based in Detroit.