Artist Jeff LeFever has been developing his Freedom ART Project since 1996. Much of that development has taken form in writing and sketch studies - until now.

On September 28th, 2002, LeFever presented his first group of paintings related to the Freedom ART Project. Fifty two works, painted this year, from April - August, were displayed for one night in Laguna Beach, California. The studio space of artist Dennis Ekstrom housed the event.

The work traverses many styles with the common thread of "cloud forms." The artist states the paintings are in preparation for the first, ten foot tall prototype painting of Genesis, and to ready his hand, he needed to return to the painting studio. "My only restriction to this period in the studio was to explore cloud forms - other than that there were no stylistic or paint medium restrictions - the studio time was open to possibility."

The paintings of CLOUD FORMS divine mystery, introduce a new direction to LeFever's painting style, one he refers to as "construction, deconstruction - reconstruction" - "an interplay of relationship."

This new style captures a vitality only glimpsed at in LeFever's earlier work. LeFever notes that his intent was to create an "immediacy" in the art that could capture a viewer and engage their imagination beyond a viewable nostalgic image - work, that the artist hopes is constantly fresh to the viewers eye. This freshness is apparent in paintings such as "Silver", "26", and "27" which have a breathtaking involvement the longer one spends in front of them.

"Silver" has a striking effect in person - it is a powerful painting with the ability to provoke the imagination. Some people attending the event were drawn to it immediately stating it to be the favorite of the show for its impact - others couldn't bring themselves to look at it.

With large sweeps of color, drips, and bold patches of red, and strong black outlines (where one would not expect them to be delineating pastel cloud shapes), "Silver" shouts with the voice of a tempest while sitting firmly in a classic stillness. Its energy seems to vibrate from within the canvas by the little details of textures that continually call to the viewers attention as if dancing in the eye of the storm. One viewer actually saw and described a provocative narrative of a "decorated soldier looking back on his past full of pain and guilt yet redemption was coming in from the sides."

On the other spectrum of study and cloud form observation were the small clouds titled "44a-g" and the much larger painting, "REST" Where many of the paintings in CLOUD FORMS divine mystery are very active, full of invigorating surface treatments and composition, "REST" is a quiet interlude.

"REST", an endless sky that seems to absorb light. The transitional sky, falls behind a band of gold leaf - which responds to the light actively with the warmth of sunshine, beaming from an unseen sun. The gold band supports a pale pinkish horizon line, the two creating the painting's song - look at it long enough and one can hear its energetic and restorative calm. Below the gold, a glossy and earthy foundation weights the view to the everyday, as if a bearing, so that one does not get lost in the meditative sky.

Not all paintings in the show had anything more than presence and emotion to associate to (and each persons' individual imagination and reaction to the evocative work was interesting to watch) - yet four of the show's paintings were certainly objective. 44a-g collectively (7 small paintings in array) was, perhaps the most sought of the works (four of the seven sold). Each small painting (11" square") depicting a singular cloud formation above a gold horizontal earth. Quiet yet powerful, each tile has a majesty in its simplicity. The rendered clouds have an internal glow as if the light was emanating, as an ember, from each cloud. Considering the association of the cloud to God's presence, and the technique of painting - the clouds appear somewhere between physical opacity and a sublime spirituality - an interesting meditation is offered

The other three paintings taking a different tact form the rest of the show were "Freedom Project Study 1", "Despair", and "52". Both "Freedom Project Study 1" and "Despair" were painted far before the other work, 1997 and 1985 respectively, and it is obvious. Although much of the new work was built atop of older works, these two remained untouched. "Freedom Project Study 1", was a highlight of the show and was historically important as the first painting LeFever painted with paint in answer to his call to, "Paint Clouds. Put Them In Crosses." It is also the painting during which his vision for the Freedom ART Project became revealed. As his calling stated, so this painting expresses - clouds within a cross. An image of this painting can be found at the Online Show at the link below.

Like "Freedom Project Study 1"and "Despair", "52" is also a cross, however much more subdued. The difference in "52" is the symbolism that LeFever saw compelled to enhance during the months of painting the artwork. The cross of "52" is less grounded in a rendered depiction, and more in a fractured prism of color - as if telling the presence of an idea. A dark cloud rises like two arms, forward of a thick lit sky. But an odd thing occurs at some point as the brightest point of the sky suggests a splitting of the darker form. Talking with the artist, he muses, " it is a compound symbol of the darkness that came during the crucifixion of Jesus, the rending of the the veil to the Holy of Holies at the Jerusalem temple, and the entrance of the Holy Spirit into a dark world, '...descending like a dove', the blood of Christ as the covering of sin, and the cross roads presented by that event in history."

CLOUD FORMS divine mystery was a large show with 52 paintings (32 were hung), perhaps a bit overwhelming for one night's viewing. The work demanded time to be with each, and having so many works hung closely to one another, created an anxiety to get through the show quickly so as not to miss anything - and similar to what occurs at a museum, one becomes, eventually, numb to seeing. The show and the audience would have benefited from at least a few more days of public availability. Regardless of that criticism, the work itself hints at an amazing next phase for LeFever and the Freedom ART Project. If these works are any indication, the first prototype painting will be arresting.

To see the Online Show of CLOUD FORMS divine mystery, use the link below.

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Want to learn more about CLOUD FORMS divine mystery?
WEB RESOURCES:

CLOUD FORMS divine mystery
Online SHOW

The Freedom ART Project Frequently Asked Questions

The Freedom ART Project History

The Art of the Freedom ART Project

Practice Paintings

Contact Jeff LeFever: lefever@lefever.com

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