Capturing accidents
By Lori Christmastree

Art Opening Misha Tomic Fri, May 22, 7pm Sala Principal Bellas Artes Hernández Macías 75

A painter by formal training, Misha Tomic exchanged his canvas six years ago for a computer screen. Tomic is exhibiting a selection of digital images at Bellas Artes May 22–June 28. Themes of abstract and representational images are intertwined and coexist, exploring the possibilities offered by their meeting place.

Paper pages from notebooks, bureaucratic forms, toilet paper, envelopes and letters are inspiring models. More recent work has an added interest in transparency. Together with other everyday objects, they represent a connection with the world Tomic’s art inhabited in his canvas and “hands-on painting” days.

The world of art with its isms and personalities gives a framework for Mexico and San Miguel de Allende inspirations. Since Tomic’s art was exclusively dealing with objects and/or visual concepts (such as crossword puzzles, hobo signs or mathematical symbols), lifting his eyes toward the vistas around him is new to him (people have yet to seriously enter). What forges an unmistakable link is his interest in textures and patterns.

The history of art meets San Miguel in works that were done in Mexico, where Tomic spends winters with his wife Lori Christmastree. Mentioning some of the titles from this group may tell more about their character: “SMA-Giacometti,” “SMA-Op Art,” “SMA-Abstract Expressionism” and “SMA-Tàpies.”

Tomic was born in Serbia (the former Yugoslavia) and for the last nine years has divided his time between San Miguel and Maine.