Friday, March 14, 2008

James Gray Gallery / New Exhibitions

A new group of exhibititions open on March 15th, at the James Gray Gallery located at Bergamot Station, in Santa Monica. The opening and artist reception will be Saturday evening, March 15th, from 6 - 9pm.


Augustin Castillo
Abstract CVIII
Mixed media, multicanvas, 64" x 48"
© Augustin Castillo, courtesy James Gray Gallery



Augustin Castillo
Abstract CIX
Mixed media, multicanvas, 60" x 44"
© Augustin Castillo, courtesy James Gray Gallery


Born in the city of San Jose, California, and living most of his life in Mexico, Agustin Castillo has been influenced by many cultures. Naturally, his artworks are fusions of amazingly crafted materials and methods. Castillo notes, “I always try to develop concepts that would help to canalize my emotions, ideas, and visual interpretations.” Linking several canvases with such materials as resin, acrylic, and paste, he adds texture and dimension to a very powerful visual encounter. Castillo’s complex process culminates to a seemingly minimal piece. The onlooker’s gaze slowly travels through the emotive and subtle colors and textures of his three-dimensional, abstract paintings.


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Joanie San Chirico
Sunset Tree #2
Pigment, hand stitching, 48" x 38"
© by artist, courtesy James Gray Gallery




Joanie San Chirico
Marshlands #1
Pigment, hand stitching, acrylic, 20" x 20"
© by Joanie San Chirico, courtesy James Gray Gallery


Joanie San Chirico's work is unique with the incorporation of photography, paint, stitching and textiles. The viewer is almost challenged to decipher the actual composition of the painting. The artist integrates techniques to reflect on the past in an attempt to make sense of the future by utilizing the incongruity of hand stitching with the latest technology on silk and other textiles. This series combines these mediums to portray natural surfaces using imagery of the planet's fragile beauty.



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Dan Van Clapp
Baby Prometheus
Mixed media, 66" x 27" x 30"
© Dan Van Clapp, courtesy James Gray Gallery



Dan Van Clapp
Birth of Martyr
Mixed media, 70" x 13" x 34"
© Dan Van Clapp, courtesy James Gray Gallery


The history of Art and Literature has been a provocative inspiration and, for me, an identification with the past. Ever fascinated by civilization in conflict, I have chosen the human figure by using plastic dollars, to evoke the connections between troubling eroticism and the pursuit of power. At first glance one might see this work as spiritually romantic, but on closer inspection, the viewer sees an alluring, powerful figure whose mysterious origins tend to drift to the dark side of human nature.

For the last 15 years his work has been inspired by the 17th century church santos, while pleasing to look at with their entire classic splendor, the overall theme becomes about sadness, power, and fear.



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Nympha Grubbs
Dance
Acrylic and oil on canvas, 24" x 30"
© Nympha Grubbs, courtesy James Gray Gallery, Santa Monica




William Kendall
Silent
Acrylic on canvas, 24" x 30"
© William Kendall, courtesy James Gray Gallery, Santa Monica




Yasmin Sayyed
Veils of Knowledge
Acrylic and oil on canvas, 22" x 30"
© Yasmin Sayyed, courtesy James Gray Gallery, Santa Monica



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Artist reception will be Saturday, March 15th, from 6 - 9pm.


James Gray Gallery
Bergamot Station
2525 Michigan Avenue, Building D4
Santa Monica, CA 90404
310.315.9502


Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11am - 6pm


For additional information and images see gallery website.
James Gray Gallery



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