POST AMUNDSON FAREWELL WRAPUP AND SHOW EXTENSION DETAILS

The energy around Plus Gallery was at an all-time high, with the Friday night going away celebration for Bill Amundson bringing more people through our doors in a single night than probably any other event.  The tribute was well deserved, and various sources in the arts community mobilized to wish he and his wife Anita farewell.

First came Kyle MacMillan's Friday-night pick in the Denver Post, featuring the illustrious Amundson drawing "Joe Joe Pop."

Next came Susan Froyd's heartfelt Westword Blog that same day, offering images and links in the way only a blog can do these days, you can check it out by linking at

http://blogs.westword.com/showandtell/2010/09/bill_affair_bill_amundson_says_bye_bye_tonight_at_plus_gallery.php

Finally, this week saw the final word from Westword's Michael Paglia in the regular edition hitting the streets today.  Because of all the press out on Bill's departure and show upstairs at Plus, we've decided to extend the exhibition of his works through till this Saturday October 2nd.

Bill's legacy in Colorado has been enormous, thousands of people have seen at least two of his major works at the Denver Art Museum since the opening of the Hamilton Wing several years ago, and audiences outside of the state have also been introduced via group exhibitions at galleries and institutions, including the most recent array on display at the Kohler Art Center this summer.  Those who want to see Bill at his most enormous can visit the "Mellow Mushroom" for pizza and drinks any day of the week at their new location on the 16th street mall between Larimer and Lawrence.   And in digging through the archives of press Bill has received online, we came across this rare gem from 2003, relating to Bill's lesser-known days as a beer-can collector  (which explains a lot about his work and, shall we say, personality....)

http://www.westword.com/2003-12-04/restaurants/consumed/

We shall all miss Bill's presence in Denver dearly, but will be counting the days until he returns for another Plus Gallery exhibition down the road. The anticipation to see what the Wisconsin climate does to his output should be palpable indeed!  In the meantime, we urge you to come view his work here at the gallery and consider adding something from one of the most talented and interesting artists in the world to your collection (like this striking image of Joe Nacchio from Bill's current "American Dickheads" series.

We leave you with the following two links to Bill's speech from last week as he received the AFKEY award at the Denver Art Museum.  Their annual meeting will likely never be the same!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40S5KDZJdCQ 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEPsiz 

KATE PETLEY TO DELIVER ARTIST TALK AT PLUS GALLERY THIS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1st @ 7PM

Bill Amundson isn't the only Plus Gallery artist to get some space in the press for his art.  The equally talented Kate Petley saw three images of her latest works appear in the new issue of Modern in Denver for their fall arts wrap-up, and her current exhibition was also applauded by Michael Paglia in this weeks Westword.

The most common response to her current work has been "how does she do that?"  Well, those who want to know all there is to know about Petley's bold and beautiful works are welcome to join us this Friday for her artist talk starting at 7pm.  Kate's process is one of the most unique and complex that we've come across, and as a veteran of the contemporary scene she has a lot to offer, please join us as we celebrate October First Friday with this rare treat.

JENNY MORGAN COMMISSION FOR NY MAGAZINE HITS THE STANDS

Plus Gallery sensation Jenny Morgan is in demand right now, we hope you have figured that out via our newsletters of the last five years.   Being in the NYC spotlight has been essential for some of her recent developments, including a recent commission by NY Magazine for their article on the most influential people currently in NYC.  Morgan was tapped to paint a portrait of Lauren Santo Domingo, considered to be at the very top of the social heap (no easy feat we suspect).  What will this do for Jenny's career and further visibility?  Outside of getting invited to some serious A-list parties we suspect this will just be another continuation in a long line of marvelous points along her already brilliant and blossoming career.

PLUS GALLERY PROFILED IN NEW ISSUE OF 5280

Also hitting the newsstands this week is a unique profile in 5280 on Plus Gallery and our personal residence adjacent to the gallery.

NEW WORKS BY GABRIEL LISTON NOW AT PLUS GALLERY

Two terrific paintings and a trio of affordable monotypes by Plus Gallery artist Gabriel Liston just arrived last week, making it kind of like Christmas.  Liston also sent along a copy of a short film on him that was shot and produced in conjunction with his recent residency project in Portland, Oregon.  We're trying to figure out how to get the clip online soon, so stay tuned, it's a really thoughtful and well executed work on one of our favorite artists.

One Question Leads to Another

The water gushes again

ALLIE POHL COMMISSION SENT TO THE HAMPTONS

Here is the latest from Allie Pohl, an artist you have no doubt heard a lot about this year (and will continue to in the future for certain).  This commission is based on her ceramic series "Ideal Woman: Jennifer Love Hewitt" which features Swarovski Crystals framing up Barbie's crotch, oh my!

WILLIAM BETTS' LATEST EXHIBITION IN VANCOUVER STARTS STRONG

Plus Gallery artist William Betts recently kicked off a new exhibition in Vancouver focused on his recent works that take the level of detailed artistic execution to glorious new heights, with half the show selling out before it even opened.  His rear-drilled plexiglas paintings are some of the most unique works on the international market today and once again prove that Betts is making leaps and bounds towards a brilliant career in the contemporary realm.

CANADIAN ARTIST BRENDAN TANG GETS SET FOR "SOBEY ART AWARDS" EXHIBITION

Tang is one of five artists from Canada under the age of 40 up for the award, with the exhibition starting soon in Montreal.  We just received the invite and wish this talented artist the best of luck in scooping up the award.  Come see his work now at Plus Gallerybefore they leave for the 67th Scripps Ceramic Annual ceramic show later this year.

PLUS GALLERY HAS BEEN YELPED

Yikes, more good press on Plus!  This one from the online site Yelp, sent in by one of favorite fans Georgina Kolber of the Mizel Museum.  Feel free to add your own thoughts or contributions to the Yelp community and let them know that there is a haven for contemporary art here in Denver!
http://www.yelp.com/biz/plus-gallery-denver#hrid:335ksaYAV_4Vb1I9OPkB0w 

AND COMING SOON TO THE RINO DISTRICT: A RHINO ALA MIKE WHITING

The cat is now out of the bag, Denver will boast several new works of public art in the coming month including a massive Rhino commissioned by Plus Gallery artist Mike Whiting to rest just one block south of the gallery.  Though we only have a studio image to share currently, we'll have more on this major news in the coming month leading up to Mike's new Plus Gallery exhibition "Primitives" set to commence on October 21st.

Special event alert: Farewell to Bill Amundson this week at Plus Gallery

Artist Bill Amundson has been a fixture in the Denver community for 35 years, having slowly built a profile as one of the most skilled, prolific and downright compelling artists in the history of the state.  So it is with great sadness that we announce his departure from Denver and return to his homestate of Wisconsin, along with his wife Anita who mutually shared the love and admiration that has been continually attached to Bill throughout his lengthy career.


Bill's departure does not mean that he won't remain a strong presence within the Plus Gallery stable nor Denver's greater art environment, but those who know Bill and his extremely large and generous personality will certainly miss having him around.


SO, all week we celebrate the artist and his gifts to our community.  On Tuesday evening the DAM Contemporaries, of which Bill has supported and been a board member for 14 years, will honor him with this year's AFKEY award at their annual meeting at Palates restaurant at the DAM. Starting the next day, Wednesday the 22nd and going through to Saturday the 25th Plus Gallery will display an assortment of Bill's most treasured and wondrous drawings in our adjunct galleries on the first and second floor.

Though widely collected and known for the numerous small-scale drawings that reflect on our society and the peoples/forces that populate it (for better or worse), it is Bill's larger-scale drawings that show the depth and maturity he has built through an intense focus and love for drawing.  His talent is a true gift with enormous depth that has been shared in many ways through his time here.Plus Gallery will now offer up a grand selection of his best and rarely-viewed works, both older, recent and in some cases brand new in a first-of-its kind display.  In a nutshell, this is a rare opportunity and one that we invite everyone to participate in.

Because we and so many others have such fond memories of Bill and his wife Anita, we will also be hosting a farewell event here at Plus on Friday, September 24th from 5-8pm.  Leaving town is not easy, particularly fielding all the requests to visit and spend time with them both, so we see this as an opportunity for everyone to share in one final moment and perhaps even support their next step with the purchase of some of Bill's artwork.


We hope to see you this week.  Anyone wishing a private viewing of the works outside of gallery hours may contact ivar@plusgallery.com to schedule.

A FAR-AWAY TAKE ON KATE PETLEY'S CURRENT EXHIBITION AT PLUS GALLERY

We received this today on Kate's work from Jewell Johnson, a renowned visual artist and theatrical director who resides in Sydney, Australia:

"This installation and the work is absolutely exquisite.

I am so happy to see the sculpture,  which I am immediately and completely taken with.

The panels are so juicy, have such an intense and beautiful impact I am still digesting them. Words seem inadequate to communicate what you are doing, and at what point you are as an artist. I can say there is a quality to your work that only Helen Frankenthaler does/touches or did.

Funny,  I revisited her work recently  for what I can't get anywhere else, what seems to be a thread that hasn't continued  with others. Today, with this installation, I can really see you do that. It's like going to a world that doesn't exist anywhere else and it definitely is a separate world. This is a subtle connection, I know, but I would expect serious collectors to see this and know your work is exceptional; both peaceful and tremendously powerful in the way her work is, the difference being her time and your time.

In our time, it is even more difficult to accomplish because of what has come before, but you have ventured into and expanded  a realm that related not just to nature, which her time mainly referenced, but both nature and the "nature" of the world man has created for himself.

The key "success" is your work is un self-conscious. A rare feat in a world where everyone is so concerned with "making it" and what will sell that it's so obvious the artist is "THE ARTIST" making art. You are truly able to be the artist making it who can also forget that you are making it."

EVENTS OF NOTE COMING SOON

William Betts opens an exhibition of new works today at Jennifer Kostuik Gallery in Vancouver, BC.  The new works are a progression of his reverse-drilled mirrored plex series.

Plus Gallery presents "Art that Ignites" at the Friedlander residence in Boulder on Friday, September 17th.  This is a private RSVP only event, 5:30-8:30pm

Jenny Morgan's "Let Go" will be unveiled in the private group exhibition "Parlour No. 18" on Saturday September 18th in NYC

Bill Amundson receives the "DAMKey Award" in conjunction with the DAM Contemporaries on Tuesday, September 21st at Palettes restaurant at 6pm.  Members only event, become a member and RSVP to jbrunecky@denverartmuseum.org

Kate Petley will discuss her current exhibition here at Plus Gallery on First Friday in October, the 1st @ 7pm

RECENT PICTURE ROUNDUP FROM PLUS GALLERY ARTISTS and ACTIVITIES

Kate Petley exhibition views and opening photos

See more pics from the opening at http://www.plusgallery.com/scrapbook/54 

Hot out of the studio: New works by Jenny Morgan

Let Go

Me You and Everyone We Know

Riva Sweetrocket:  A work in progress for upcoming Denver Botanic Gardens exhibition November 2010

Blackberry

ADDITIONAL PLUS GALLERY ARTIST NEWS

Plus Gallery artist Jenny Morgan has been commissioned by New York Magazine in conjunction with their upcoming issue on the new establishments in NY.  Morgan is also currently featured in "Poets and Artists" with a very nice profile.
Plus Gallery artist Lenka Konopasek has work on view at the Castle Gallery at the College of New Rochelle in NY in the exhibition "Nature/Culture" on view from September 7th through November 7th.

Plus Gallery artist Allie Pohl opens a major exhibition this weekend at the Marina Abramovic Institute at 575 Sutter Street in San Francisco.  "Perfect" will be on view from September 11- October 15th, with the opening reception held this Saturday September 11th from 3pm-5pm.

Plus Gallery artist Melissa Furness has work on view in the invitational exhibition "With/drawn: Contemporary Drawing Exhibition" at the Drawing Room in Budapest, Hungary, on view through September 16th.

Art critic Leanne Goebel recently gave her comments on the Denver Art Museum exhibition "Face to Face" which features PlusGallery artist Bill Amundson, available online at

http://www.adobeairstream.com/component/zine/article/427-face-to-face-at-dam.html 

Amundson will be presented with the Denver Art Museum's "DAMKey Award" in conjunction with the DAM Contemporaries on Tuesday, September 21st at Palettes restaurant at 6pm as par of the 2010 Annual Meeting for the group.  This is a members only event and requires an RSVP to jbrunecky@denverartmuseum.org  

Plus Gallery reception for Kate Petley's "One Big Dream"

Please join Plus Gallery and artist Kate Petley tonight, Thursday September 9th for the opening reception of her exhibition "One Big Dream."  The reception will be held from 6-8pm.


Partial Installation View: One Big Dream

PLUS GALLERY presents: ONE BIG DREAM New mixed media work by Kate Petley

Artist's reception Thursday, September 9th from 6-8pm

Come celebrate the opening of the fall art-season and view works by one of the most forward thinking artists in Colorado this coming Thursday September 9th at Plus Gallery.  Kate Petley's "One Big Dream" showcases an artist fully charged and at the top of her form, having developed a major body of work over the last year that brings the vocabulary of abstract art to an entirely new and progressive level.

Working in resin and mixed mediums for over a decade, Petley's abstract compositions are the result of isolated fragments unified into a dazzling, coherent whole. Referring to her collaged panels as "flat screens" that freeze the image, the works exude mysterious, elegant textures and sensuous color-qualities that are largely indescribable without seeing firsthand and derive from a very unforgiving and unique process. Elements of youthful street-art give the composition an edge, along with an array of subtle fragments that relate to semi-urban environments, demonstrating both the ordinariness and spectacular beauty of our world.

Please join us in meeting Kate this coming Thursday and starting a new season of great contemporary art for the Denver community at Plus Gallery. The exhibition is on view through October 16th, Petley will give an artist talk on First Friday in October.

The Corner of the Day

resin and film on plexiglas, 40 x 54 inches, 2010

Watch the unique process video of Kate's work on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1Pr6dJBa50 

FINAL NEWS FOR END OF SUMMER 2010

Canadian Art Critic Murray Whyte responds to Plus Gallery pres on "You Are Here" in the Denver Post, we encourage anyone who has an opinion to join in this discussion, it has provided some interesting dialogue already both on his blog as well as our facebook posting and we feel it's important to get anything originating from Denver to circulate across state and country lines:

http://thestar.blogs.com/untitled/2010/08/yes-there-is-canadian-art-so-says-denver-yes-denver-.html 




Several Plus Gallery artists have exhibitions upcoming and in the works.  Brendan Tang's ceramic sculpture's from "You Are Here" will next travel to the 67th Scripps Ceramic Annual at the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery in California in January, anyone interested in adding these works to their personal collection are recommended to do so.  With the additional pedigree of the Scripps show as well as his Sobey Art Award exhibition this November,  these are undeniably some of the most prestigious and investment-worthy works in the gallery right now.


Allie Pohl has just finished installing a new piece from her "ideal woman" series at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley for an exhibition that launches this weekend.  Here's a quick view she sent us yesterday:

R. Justin Stewart may be one of the most sought-after emerging artists in the country right now, he has several upcoming exhibitions including a group show from September 9th - October 9th at one of our favorite Chelsea spots the Winkleman Gallery.  Works last seen in his Plus Gallery solo exhibition from July of 2009 will be on view at the Soo Visual Art Center in Minneapolis, MN from September 18th-October 31st in the exhibition "Systematics."  And finally, the H & R Block Space in Kansas City, MO will host the group exhibition "(Re)Formed" from October 8th-December 10th with Stewart's work as part of the group

That's all for the next two weeks, we hope you will mark your calendars for september 9th and plan on joining us that evening to commence our fall season opener featuring new works by Kate Petley.

SAVE THE DATE, THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 9TH FOR PLUS GALLERY OPENING

Plus Gallery commences the fall season by welcoming renowned artist Kate Petley back to the spotlight with her third solo exhibition "One Big Dream" from September 9th through October 16th. The exhibition comes on the heels of a major year for Petley, following significant developments in her work that led to an expansive solo exhibition at Wyoming's Nicolaysen Art Museum in January, as well as inclusion in the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs curatorial endeavor "4 x 4: 4 artists, 4 curators" later in May. The attention Petley has received throughout her career at the institutional level is in perfect tandem with her focused and innovative studio practice.  "One Big Dream" showcases an artist fully charged and at the top of her form.

Working in resin and mixed mediums for over a decade, Petley's abstract compositions are the result of isolated fragments unified into a dazzling, coherent whole. Referring to her collaged panels as "flat screens" that freeze the image, they are thoughtfully constructed using an intuitive process based on her personal experience of location. Her vocabulary has expanded greatly in the last year, producing results that exude mysterious, elegant textures and sensuous color-qualities that are largely indescribable without seeing the works firsthand.  Relying upon an unforgiving, technically sophisticated process, every decision Petley makes is visible.  The images appear to be coaxed into behaving as if they arranged themselves automatically without intervention. Elements of youthful street-art give the composition an edge, along with an array of subtle fragments that relate to semi-urban environments, demonstrating both the ordinariness and spectacular beauty of our world.

Come see one of the standout exhibitions of the fall season and meet Kate at the opening on September 9th from 6-8pm

KATE PETLEY: The Corner of the Dayresin and film on plexiglas, 25 x 37.5 inches, 2010

And lastly, we highly recommend picking up the new Arcade Fire album "The Suburbs" that was released last week. It is simply extraordinary, showing a band so comfortable in their own skin that they turn out another masterpiece in only their third try.

High praise for Plus gallery exhibition in today's Denver Post

Art Critic Kyle MacMillan provides an exceptional take on Plus Gallery's exhibition "You Are Here" in today's Denver Post. His interpretation of Douglas Walker's massive piece is particularly spot on, it really must be seen in person and is a work of extraordinary thought and integrity. The other works are exceptional too, artists Brendan Tang and Alex McLeod are particularly blossoming in the international spotlight right now.  McLeod is quickly becoming the darling of the contemporary scene in Canada (see link below) and contrary to MacMillan's article, Tang is actually one of five finalists for the 2010 Sobey Art Award and we have no doubt in our minds that he will win the award come November.


All of the artists have contributed to make this one of our most cohesive curatorial efforts to date, there is a lot to discover and learn if you come visit to see the exhibition, which is on view for only one more week, closing after Friday, August 20th.

The gallery will shut down for two weeks thereafter in preparation for the fall season and for a well-needed vacation.

Read the Denver Post review online at:
www.denverpost.com/art/ci_15746699  
Listen to Art Critic Leanne Goebel's interview with Brendan Tang online at
http://networkedblogs.com/6Lntk
And this just came out on Alex McLeod, an artist who is literally on fire:
http://arttoronto.wordpress.com/2010/08/12/futuristic-art-traditional-ideals-alex-mcleod-is-a-hybrid/ 

If you haven't seen his billboard as part of the Denver Theatre District's outdoor art gallery yet, we recommend swinging by to take a look, approximately at the corner of 14th and Arapahoe.  It is history being made!

Plus Gallery Biennial Exhibition Continues Through August 20th

The Biennial may be over, but "You Are Here" at Plus Gallery continues on till August 20th.  We have put a lot of effort into crafting an exciting exhibition for the inaugural Biennial and encourage you to come visit and see works by five extremely talented artists from Canada. Not nearly as heady as some of the artistic work on display at other Biennial venues, the works on view at Plus Galleryare very approachable and hit multiple high-notes from both a visual and process standpoint.  It is one of our finest efforts of the year and we encourage you to come view it in person.

Other reason to come by Plus Gallery now:  A new mid-size painting by John Hull of a topless woman and her dog on the beach, as well as two smaller paintings from the same series, hand delivered by John last week while he was out in Denver for summer vacation.

What else is happening in august?  Plus Gallery artist Tsehai Johnson has been in residence at PlatteForum, which is collaborating with Lighthouse Writers Workshop for the Biennial Exhibition "Here at Home: 6 Artists." Opening this Thursday, August 5 from 3 - 8pm, the public is welcome to tour the artists' work, along with a dynamic literary reading by local writers of all ages and site-specific performance (approximately 6pm).  The exhibitions and activity will take place at PlatteForum and Riverfront Park Suites #135, 120 and 170.  Johnson recently received a major public commission by the Federal Government, and is also on tap to exhibit at the Denver Art Museum next year for their focus on contemporary ceramic works.

New addition to the gallery stable Allie Pohl has new work in her "Ideal Woman" series up at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, and is working on an extension of the series for an exhibition at the Marina Abromovic Institute in San Francisco this fall.  She will also be mounting the exhibition "XX-XY" at the Orlando Art Museum in the fall as well.  Allie is one of the most energetic and forward-thinking artists we've come across in a long time, we highly recommend getting to know her work.  

We are also extremely pleased to announce the recent addition of Xi Zhang to the Plus Gallery stable.  Hailed in 2008 as the "Emerging Artist of the Year" by the Denver Post, Xi is simply an astonishing and gifted painter.  He first caught attention while studying at RMCAD in our "Young Guns" exhibition of new talent.  He is currently finishing his masters at CU Boulder, pushing the envelope in a major way with both his major and minor works.  He currently has several large-scale canvases on display at DIA, and will have work available to see at Plus Gallery in the fall.