GREGORY CALIBEY
	FOREWORD The first impression of Gregory Calibey's work is one of lyrical beauty; his figures are graceful, his palette refined and his compositions superbly balanced. Yet, ultimately it is the surfaces of his paintings that are the most captivating and what most distinguishes him from the rest of the 'new realists.' Expressive brushstrokes are conveyed through lush areas of thickly applied paint, while in dramatic contrast pigment is scumbled and washed over sections of the canvas, revealing the raw weave of the linen. This contemporary handling of paint, combined with a classical figurative aesthetic, is dramatic and brilliantly underscored by Mr. Calibey's subtle tones and harmonious use of color. The figure in "Seated Woman" is set against a background of soft shades of beige, taupe and rose, with the barest hint of a blue-green note to balance the composition. The subject's dress almost dissolves into her muted surroundings, emphasizing the warmth of her skin tones. The surface of the painting is vital with texture and movement, brilliantly counterbalancing the passivity of her posture. In contrast to the warmth in that palette, the artist has used an of array cool tones in "Broome Street", where two men sit perched side by side in front of a building, each lost in his own world. Crosshatches of white canvas peer through fields of color conveying the age of the building facade. We are led into the work by both the steps on the left and the lower figure on the right, which creates the tension and balance expressed by the pyramidal composition. The narrative of Gregory Calibey's work is straightforward, belying the complexity of his technique. His statement is mature and he speaks with an elegant fluidity the combines the best of the classical form with a vocabulary that is wholly his own. Gregory Calibey received his formal education from Weslyan University and the University of North Carolina where he worked with his mentor Marvin Saltzman. After receiving three national awards for painting, his creativity led him to explore many artistic disciplines, from architecture and design to illustration and television production. Calibey entered each of these creative arenas with vigor and enthusiasm, achieving notable levels of success. Yet, through all his incarnations, painting has been the most satisfying venue for his talents. No other discipline has captured his imagination or challenged his skill as much as these acts of creation. His newest body of work is a tribute to the complexity of both his talent and his vision.
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