Realist painting isn’t usually considered as a medium for documentation, since painting was superceded by photography and wielders of the brush started to branch out into further nonrepresentative styles. A 2009 show by Daniel Ramjoue served, in addition to great eye candy, as a reminder of local landmarks past, like the Dee Burger clown and the neon sign at Bill & Nada’s Café. And they were hard to tell apart from photographs from across the room.
It was fitting that the exhibit of urban signage was mounted at the 814 Gallery, due to that building’s more functional role in the world of business as the offices of architects David Richardson, Hoagland and Co. and Capitol Hill Construction. In his current show, the Germanborn painter depicts European scenes and figure drawings, which also give evidence of his exacting eye as well as his skill at sketching the human body—and that compared to other local notables, he is underexposed.
Daniel Ramjoue: Fun and Games @ 814 Gallery, 814 E. 100 South, 801-533-0204, through Jan. 31.