Surface Paintings
Charles Gniech has spent more than the past two decade exploring the meditative qualities of the prehistoric stone circles of Great Britain. Gniech explains... "Britain is littered with more than four hundred and thirty of these prehistoric sites... most people are familiar with Stonehenge, yet there are areas concentrated with megalithic structures as far to the north as the Scottish Islands, and as far to the south and west as Cornwall. The largest complex of circles is just to the north of Stonehenge, at Avebury." Gniech's latest body of work is influenced by the meditative qualities of the fluid surface-patterns found on some of these monuments. Gniech continues... "I have taken some artistic liberties, in the replication, manipulation and abstraction of the surface patterns found on these massive stone slabs, yet the work continues to convey the serene qualities regularly associated with nature and inner peace."

Charles Gniech?s exploration of the meditative surface patterns?influenced by various prehistoric monoliths?continues with a series of works comprised of mostly neutral color tones. The color shift is based on observations in nature, which seems to relax the human psyche. Paintings from this body of work, continue to be presented in a traveling exhibition titled ?Meditative Surfaces.? This three-person exhibition combines Gniech?s paintings with the abstract photography of Maggie Meiners and Mixed-Media work created by Deanna Krueger. During the recent exhibition at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art [November 2013-January 2014], Gniech's canvas titled "Grounded II" was acquired for the museum's permanent collection.

For additional informaton, contact Hofheimer Gallery - Chicago

Harper, 2017, acrylic on canvas, 20 x 20

Untitled, 2014, acrylic on canvas, 40 x 60
Shown at the 2017 Curators Create exhibition at the Bridgeport Art Center

Untitled, 2014, acrylic on canvas, 40 x 60

Surface, 2017, acrylic on canvas, 40 x 60

Left to right:
Aqua 1, 2016, acrylic on canvas 20 x 20"
Aqua 2, 2016, acrylic on canvas 20 x 20"
Aqua 3, 2016, acrylic on canvas 20 x 20"

Breath, 2013, acrylic on canvas - dyptich, 60 x 72

Breath, 2013, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 72
Shown at the 2017 Studio Faculty Exhibition, Laura A. Sprague Art Gallery, Joliet Junior College; Joliet, Illinois

Passage, 2014, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 60

Essence, 2014, acrylic on canvas, 40 x 40

Symbiotic, 2014, acrylic on canvas, 40 x 40

Anomaly, acrylic on canvas, 40 x 60

Presented in a show titled Meditative Surfaces at The Art Center-Highland Park 2015

Night Striation, 2012, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 30 - Detail at right

Rise, acrylic on canvas, 40 x 40

Striation ~ Viloet, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 24 - Detail at right

Meditation IV, 36" x 36", acrylic on canvas, 2010

Surface, 40" x 60", acrylic on canvas, 2007

Watching Waves, 40" x 60", acrylic on canvas, 2006

Moving Thoughts, 36" x 48", acrylic on canvas, 2006

Altered, 36" x 15", acrylic on canvas, 2009 - detail at right

Moving Surface, 36" x 72", acrylic on canvas, 2007

Blue Stone, 36" x 15", acrylic on canvas, 2006 - detail at right

Calming Rythm, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 30 - Detail at right

Cornerstone, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 30 - Detail at right

Stone Surface, 24" x 48", acrylic on canvas, 2007

The following paintings have been acquired for public or private collections

Grounded, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 40 - Detail at right
In the Collection of Steve Olson and Peter Gettins

Striation ~ White, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 24 - Detail at right
Private Collector

Striation ~ Green, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 24
Private Collector

Grounded II, 60 x 40, acrylic on canvas - Detail at right
The Collection of The Fort Wayne Museum of Art - Fort Wayne, Indiana

Meditation II, 36" x 48", acrylic on canvas, 2007
In the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Sebastian Napoli, Chicago

Meditation III, 48" x 36", acrylic on canvas, 2009
Private Collection - Winnetka, IL

Purchased as a group...
Quiet Surface II, 24" x 24", acrylic on canvas, 2009
Striation, 24" x 24", acrylic on canvas, 2010 Quiet Surface I, 24" x 24", acrylic on canvas, 2009
Private Collection - Chicago

Intitution, 48" x 36", acrylic on canvas, 2010
In the Collection of Shawn Douglass and Jean Deven, Chicago<

Untitled 2006, 36" x 15", acrylic on canvas, 2006
Detail at right
In the Collection of Paula Kloczkowski Luberda, Naperville, Illinois

Untitled 2010, 36" x 15", acrylic on canvas, 2010
Detail at right
In the collection of Ann and Robert Avery, Chicago

Quiet Wisdom - Warmth, 40" x 40", acrylic on canvas, 2007
In the collection of Rose Camasta, Chicago

Red Surface, 40" x 40", acrylic on canvas, 2008
Private Collection - Chicago

Meditation, 48" x 36", acrylic on canvas, 2006
In the collection of Pat Popovich, Valpo, IN
[shown at Gallery H, Three Oaks, MI, center wall]

Quiet Wisdom II, 40" x 40", acrylic on canvas, 2007
Private Collection - Chicago
Acquired at the Art Against AIDS? 2008 benefit, Chicago

Moments III, 24" x 48", acrylic on canvas, 2007
Purchased by Wachovia for auction at the National Human Rights Campaign Benefit in Washington DC, 2007

Moments, 24" x 48", acrylic on canvas, 2006
In the collection of Mike and Maggie Meiners, Chicago

Untitled [The Liver], 36" x 48", acrylic on canvas, 2007
Wired as a vertical or horizontal composition
In the collection of Eugene Biondi, Chicago

Surface Verte, 24" x 48", acrylic on canvas, 2009
Private Collection - Woodstock, IL

Other Collectors of work from this series include:

Jan Lechner, Tinley Park, Illinois
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