Saturday, July 25, 2009

On The Plus Side



"On the Plus Side" 2009
Plus Gallery in Denver, Colorado

Last night I attended the opening of R. Justin Stewart’s installation “Systems of Knowing” at Plus Gallery. The event also marked the gallery’s eight year anniversary.

I had the privilege to first meet Stewart, New York city based artist, at the July 14th art critique at RedLine. I find his circles within squares fascinating as these round shapes seem to be haunting my paintings lately. I like that he “thinks outside of the box” and connects his pen and ink bubble drawings on the wall with straight lines of tape to three-dimensional sphere sculptures made from plastic zip ties on the floor. The exhibit runs through August 28, 2009. Check it out if you’re looking for an art experience to expand your mind.

To learn more about R. Justine Stewart visit http://www.rjustin.com/.

To check out Plus Gallery go to 2501 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205 or visit http://www.plusgallery.com/. While you’re there, go upstairs and check out the other works of art currently on display. I was particularly drawn to the circular movement of spray paint over the contorted image in Jenny Morgan and David Mramor’s painting “Enid Ellen.” And the modern pointillism painting “RCS-124802” by William Betts caught my eye too.

Art critiques are conducted at RedLine at 2350 Arapahoe St, Denver, CO 80205 on the second Tuesday of each month at 6 pm. Bring a piece of your work, buckle in, and get ready to ride a roller coaster of emotions as your baby is thrown into the stratosphere for all to judge. It’s not easy hearing praise, and being told to your face that someone doesn’t like your creation, while you’re learning to remember that it’s all relative. But it will make you a stronger artist and a more humble person just for going.

For more information about RedLine go to http://www.redlineart.org/.