Artist's cathedral exhibition shows the importance of social work

Friday, November 06, 2009
BY JANET PURCELL
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
"Social Work Works: Paintings by Lou Storey"
When: Through Nov. 20 during regular office hours
Where: Trinity Cathedral, 801 W. State St., Trenton
Admission: Free, (609) 392-3805

In a dizzying display of artwork, Trenton native Lou Storey uses shapes, symbols and words to get his message across: Social work works.
Now a signature artist at the Noyes Museum in Oceanville, Storey was once a student at Mercer County Community College, where he studied with Mel Leipzig. He recently entered the field of social work and is associated with CPC Behavioral Health in Aberdeen.
Twenty-four of his paintings that he refers to as "loose narratives" are on display in Trinity Cathedral's Synod Hall. When you visit the show, be prepared for bright colors, swirling symbols, words, chaos -- and order.
The creations hang on the wall in frames, but, even though they comprise painted elements, they are more than paintings. On their surfaces are hand-sculpted, cast shapes and piped embossed lines embedded in thickly applied acrylic pigments. And words. Words that are sometimes painted in as part of the design and words that are built onto the surface of the work, spelled out with plastic letters that Storey casts. And each framed creation has a thought-provoking message.
This is a show that can be enjoyed on two levels. Storey's obvious design ability is consistent throughout. If you can blank out the words as you view the pieces, you will see his knowledge of how colors play against each other and blend to interact. You will see how he is able to infuse his paintings with energy and still keep balance in the piece. Viewed purely on this level, you will come away feeling you have seen an exciting and satisfying exhibition.
However, if you choose to let the words add their element to the design, you will reach a far deeper understanding of what Lou Storey is saying as his brush creates swirls, lightning, and sunbursts; as he embeds letters, numbers and shapes.
Although on his website, loustoreyart.com, he says he does not always know where the image will lead him, he always ends up with a thought- provoking message for his viewers.
Take "End Hunger" for example, where the words "Wake Up" and a long line of snoring zzzzzz's rise up through an intricate design to the words End Hunger. Or "The Best Medicine," where a curved red ladder takes the viewer up a spiral to where the word "Laugh:" flows out of a stylized horn.
The messages are not always as happy as the "Laugh" one. There is "Homeless in Homeland," a dense design in dark hues that evoke emotion. A blue/bold broken figure is caught in a swirl near the word "drowning." The words "Homeless in Homeland USA" trail across the image along with "war," "greed" and "What can you do?" Dozens of encouraging words give balance to the image but still the message is clear.
Storey's background is in teaching and design. He was the recipient of the American Association of Museums 2004 award for Excellence in Design and designed three shows for the new Museum of Biblical Art, and Yeshiva University Museum.
Storey says he felt he had a lot more to give and decided to switch careers and head into the world of social work. He returned to school in 2006 to obtain his master's degree in social work.
The paintings in this exhibit portray not only Storey's journey but the importance of how social workers influence the lives of those who come to them.
A good example of how that can be effected is offered in an energetic work where the viewer is offered first a curved ladder at the bottom. The ladder leads up from the word "Change" on the painted wood frame and travels through a design that brings to mind an amusement park ride. The viewer rides through curving words, a rising sun and bright colors to the words that encourage, "Give Change A Chance."
One small painting on display, "The Hand of Social Work," seems to sum up the whole exhibition. It is an open hand whose fingers are lettered with the words: Care. Service. Practice. Advocacy. Policy. It seems to be about lending a hand, having a hand in things, having hands on. But it goes deeper than that for Storey.
On his website, he tells the story of "a kindly old neighbor whom I adored (who) took me aside and told me something that just might save me." Storey says she took his hands and held them up for him to look at carefully and said, "these are your two best friends” he says he lost touch with her, but her words have never left him. "Making art is the way my two best friends have saved me."


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