Wednesday, January 26, 2011

PLUS GALLERY OPENING RECEPTION THIS FRIDAY, JANUARY 21st 6-9pm




Plus Gallery launches the first new exhibition of 2011 this Friday evening, an extremely complex and highly anticipated solo show by Melissa Furness, her first in Denver since debuting in our 2009 group exhibition "Brave New World."

Furness delivers an epic environment that includes a massive full-wall installation that combines painted, masked, and applied elements with a digital video composition to envelope the viewer in her ongoing exploration of history, culture, past and present.  Accompanying the installation are several multi-component works that further showcase Furness' ability to create an extraordinary visual depth utilizing a variety of painting techniques across the canvas surface.....and onto the walls.

We hope you will join is in welcoming Furness this Friday evening from 6-9pm, and being the first to immerse yourself in a fascinating world by a major local talent.

Furness and assistant Angelo installing the work at Plus Gallery this week

CHANGES TO NOTE ON PLUS GALLERY WEBSITE


We have implemented a few new changes on our website this week, providing new links to our online news-blog, our facebook page, and our youtube site.  We feel that these will be useful tools for anyone that wants to access both our past and present news (most of it culled from our weekly enews) or get a little more in depth with the gallery and our program.  Our Facebook page will be the only place to find out what has been selling during the year, and will also have additional content that may not materialize on our website or weekly newsletter.  Our youtube site contains footage that is both experimental, useful or in some way relevant to the history of the gallery or those involved......and might occasionally just include something irreverent or fun.

JENNY MORGAN COMMISSIONED BY NY TIMES!


Plus Gallery artist Jenny Morgan continues her outstanding level of career progress in the new year.  She just completed a portrait commissioned by the New York Times that will appear in the near future in their Sunday Magazine (possibly on the cover).  Morgan has been gaining significant exposure through her commissions of notable figures and celebrities for major NY publications in the last half year, at the same time advancing her extraordinary studio work to new levels that solidify her standing as one of the most exciting young artists in the world.


a leaked detail from Jenny Morgan commission for NY Times

Monday, January 17, 2011

FINAL WEEK FOR ZHANG MUSAELIAN EXHIBITION AT PLUS GALLERY

This is the final week to view the exhibitions: 

Xi Zhang: Awaking Dreams
Nick Musaelian: Heroic Paintings

Join us during our regular hours today through Saturday, noon to 5pm or make an appointment to come see the exquisite paintings by two of the region's most intriguing new talents.


Left: Musaelian
Right: Zhang


OPENING NEXT WEEK: trans- f o r m a t i o n s BY MELISSA FURNESS

Plus Gallery unveils a new, ambitious exhibition by Melissa Furness, her first solo show in the state since moving to Denver in 2007 to become the Co-Area Head of Painting and Drawing at the University of Colorado, Denver.

In 2002 Furness received an award from internationally renowned artist Jessica Stockholder for her contribution to the juried show "Matter as Protagonist" at the Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven, Connecticut. She has exhibited widely in solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States and abroad, including exhibitions in Hungary, Italy, Switzerland and Bulgaria. Running concurrent with "trans-formations" are selection of her output from the last five years at the Dairy Center for the Arts in Boulder, Colorado, on view through February 11th, 2011.

In her newest body of work "trans-formations," Furness creates an epic environment that surrounds the individual, both within the painted works themselves as well as in an encompassing multi-media installation piece. The paintings explore the macro- and microcosms of cultures transformed by destruction in the past and reformed by a new view of culture today.  In the installation, the audience will be invited to stand before a 20-foot long wall-composition depicting ruins that are both familiar and foreign, moving in a space between as a video projection brings the artist's iconic swimmers to life.
Mark your calendars now and join us in welcoming Furness to the gallery on Friday, January 21st with a reception from 6-9pm.



WISCONSIN WELCOMES BILL AMUNDSON BACK WITH FRESH PRESS!

A recent article on Bill Amundson in the Wisconsin State Journal starts off like this:  

"Bill Amundson, a colorful, funny and subversive Colorado artist who among other distinctions had two beers named for him by Denver's famed Wynkoop Brewing Co., recently moved back to his native Stoughton.

Do you know where your children are now?
No, that's not fair. Amundson isn't really dangerous, unless you tend toward pretense or trendy brand identification. Then watch out. Amundson will kill you softly with bitterly funny drawings that cause people to look within themselves and consider what's important in their lives."

ALLIE POHL'S LATEST PRESS IN ELLE

Plus Gallery artist Allie Pohl continues to capture national press with her "Ideal Woman" necklace line, an offshoot of the conceptual artwork she has introduced to the world in the last two years and created quite the buzz for across all sectors of society.  Her latest is in Elle magazine, read the link at http://fashion.elle.com/accessories/2011/01/11/the-anti-barbie-necklace/ 


Ideal Woman necklaces are available at Plus Gallery now; the gallery will host Pohl's first solo exhibition later in June.



TSEHAI JOHNSON'S EXQUISITE "EXPLODING CARPET" REPRISED AT CVA FOR FACULTY SHOW

Those who caught the final exhibition in Plus Gallery's old location at 2350 Lawrence back in 2008 were rewarded with one of the most impressive installations of the last decade.  This month, the CVA on Santa Fe Drive reprises part of that exhibition, Tsehai Johnson's exquisite "Exploding Carpet" for their MSCD Art Faculty Biennial "Collective Nouns," on view now through February 19th.  We recommend taking another look, in advance of Johnson's newest work to be unveiled this summer at the Denver Art Museum.


For more information visit http://www.MetroStateCVA.org/ 
The Center for Visual Art is located at 965 Santa Fe Drive, Denver CO 80204


Hours:  Tuesday-Friday 11am-6pm, Saturday noon-5pm, First and Third Fridays open until 8pm. Admission is free.


Johnson: Detail from "exploding carpet"

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WELCOME TO A NEW DECADE FROM PLUS GALLERY!

Not only did last Friday signify the end of the year 2010, but also the close of a long, exciting and often tumultuous decade.  It was in the first year of that decade that "Cordell Taylor Gallery" took shape, followed in 2004 by our first transition into "+ Zeile Judish" and finally stabilizing shortly thereafter into Plus Gallery, one of the most highly respected and acknowledged platforms for contemporary art in Denver.  In less than ten years we've launched the careers of some of the most outstanding artists to emerge from this area, artists such as Colin Livingston, Frank T. Martinez, Karen McClanahan and Jenny Morgan, as well as national artists of now supreme caliber like William Betts, R. Justin Stewart and Mike Whiting.  We've seen some of the most rare, career level talents join the gallery stable as well during that time, artists like Bill Amundson, Jean Arnold, Gabriel Liston, Wes Magyar, Susan Meyer, Kate Petley, Bruce Price, Robin Schaefer, Riva Sweetrocket and  Dave Yust........all have and continue to shape the contemporary landscape in Colorado and beyond.  Each artist that we represent exhibits a degree of excellence that is uncommon in the gallery environment, bringing new and bold ideas to the fore in maintaining Denver's recent stature and climb forward as one of America's most notable cities for contemporary art and culture.

We look forward to an exciting new year of exhibitions that we feel will captivate and surprise, and we hope that you will all venture out to participate, not just because we think you should consider collecting these talents but moreso because they put in so much effort to push their work to new levels.  The year starts with the continuation of the exhibitions "Heroic Paintings" and "Awaking Dreams" by the remarkably gifted painters Nick Musaelian and Xi Zhang.  We'll follow later in January with the debut solo exhibition by Melissa Furness, an artist who has crafted an exquisitely unique mulit-media experience we can't wait to unveil.  The rest of the year will feature new works and installations by Patti Hallock, Allie Pohl, and Gabriel Liston, to name just a few, as well as the return of Bill Amundson, one of the most notable artists to escape Denver before the end of the decade.  Plus Gallery artists are sure to turn up in offsite exhibitions of major stature as well, look for Tsehai Johnson and Brendan Tang in this summer's "Exquisite Dirt" at the Denver Art Museum, sure to be one of the most talked about group shows of the year.

Plus Gallery capped the decade with the honor of "Art Space of the Year" from art critic Kyle MacMillan of the Denver Post.  We have now relinquished that title to CU Boulder's newly renovated art museum, a multi-million dollar project of tremendous prestige.  We know they've earned it and are honored to be in such company as the 21st century continues forward in the arts and beyond.


We encourage you to join us throughout the year, and continue to spread the word to others about Plus Gallery.
Happy New Year to all!

PLUS GALLERY TO HAVE EXTENDED HOURS FOR FIRST FRIDAY, JANUARY

Plus Gallery will be open for extended hours noon to 8pm for First Friday January 7th.  Come see our featured exhibitions by Xi Zhang and Nick Musaelian, as well as other fascinating works from our represented artists.


Musaelian and Zhang at Plus Gallery, through January 15th

XI ZHANG FEATURED IN DENVER POST'S "PATHMAKERS" REPORT TO BEGIN NEW YEAR

Plus Gallery's most recent addition to the stable, the highly gifted and endearingly personable artist Xi Zhang, was featured in last Sunday's edition of the Denver Post in a crystal ball-style report on who will be taking Colorado forward this year and beyond in the arts.  Zhang's selection for the visual arts is a tremendous honor, though one that is easy to understand considering the accolades he's received to date (before the age of 26) as well as the highly impressive output and nature of his art.  Read the report online at
http://www.denverpost.com/theater/ci_16977018


and come see for yourself Zhang's work at Plus Gallery in the exhibition "Awaking Dreams" on view through January 15th.



WESTWORD'S "TEN INFLUENTIAL ARTISTS FROM 2010" FEATURES PLUS GALLERY'S COLIN LIVINGSTON

Denver art critic Michael Paglia shared a different opinion on the arts at the end of the year, reflecting on who he considers to be the most influential artists of the last year.  The blog-only article kicks off with none other than Plus Gallery artist Colin Livingston, who shocked Denver's scene at the beginning of 2010 with one of the most extraodinary and explosive installations ever at Plus with "The Big Idea."  Livingston has continually pushed the limits within his work and his latest exhibition was hailed across the board as one of the most significant of the year.  We're glad that a year later his efforts have not been forgotten, you can read the full report here at




 Colin Livingston:  "I Love You" from the 2009/10 exhibition "The Big Idea"

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

LEANNE GOEBBEL RAVES ABOUT PLUS GALLERY ARTIST IN HER HUFFINGTON POST YEAR-END REPORT

One of the biggest advances of 2010 was the introduction of art-criticism and journalism focused on Denver from national sources and renowned writers.  Who could forget this year's cover of Art Ltd. featuring one of Jenny Morgan's recent paintings?  That this LA based national magazine is showing an interest in the Denver scene is remarkable, and welcome.  Leanne Goebbel is a frequent contributor to Art Ltd. and also maintains a gig with the Huffington Post, amongst other outlets for her talent.  Her most recent report is a reflection on the years "best ofs" from local art critics and her own spin on what impressed her this last year, including Bill Amundson, Jenny Morgan and Kate Petley from Plus Gallery.  Read what she has to say online at


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leanne-goebel/whats-missing-from-colora_b_803079.html



Kate Petley's "One Big Dream," one of Leanne Goebbel's "Best of 2010"

PLUS GALLERY ARTISTS FEATURED IN EXHIBITIONS OUTSIDE THE GALLERY

A number of Plus Gallery artists are currently featured in prestigous exhibitions both in and outside the state, here's a rundown of what you don't want to miss:

A collection of Melissa Furness' artwork of the last five years goes on view this friday at the Dairy Center for Arts in Boulder, preceeding her first solo exhibition here at Plus later this month.  The Dairy Center will host a reception on Friday, January 7th from 5-7pm,  with artist talk preceeding from 4-5pm.  Furness' work is paired with Boulder ceramic artist Dan Friedlander, making for a great start to the new year at the Dairy.

Allie Pohl currently has select works from her "Ideal Woman" series on view at Florida's Orlando Museum of Art in the exhibition "XX-XY" through June 5th.  This is a significant honor for Pohl as her work sits alongside that of artists such as Andy Warhol, Elizabeth Payton and others of major international prestige.  A report on the show and Allie's involvement can be read online at


http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_arts_letter/2010/12/orlando-museum-of-art-exhibit-with-ucf-looks-at-gender.html 


Installation view of Allie Pohl's work in "XX-XY"










Select recent works by Kate Petley are on view at Vertical Arts in Steamboat Springs through January 15th. A nice article on Kate and the show can be read online at:


http://www.steamboatpilot.com/news/2010/dec/18/through-plexiglas/


And finally, Riva Sweetrocket's splendid exhibition of recent works is on view at the Denver Botanic Gardens through the end of January.



BEST ART_RELATED READING FROM 2010

While there are hundreds of great books and written material on art as well as artists monographs, we tend to keep an eye out for titles that have a special relationship to the times and/or unique perspective on art.  Here are a few that kept us captivated  or caught our attention in the last year and somehow found the time to read:

1. Inside the Painters Studio - By Joe Fig (A fascinating view inside the artist studio, and equally fascinating concept from an artist himself)

2. Seeing out louder - By Jerry Saltz (excellence in art criticism)

3. The Art Fair Age - By Paco Barragan (mostly for the art industry but with some good tips on collecting and curating)

4. The Tanners - by Robert Walser (not an art-book per-se, but filled with excellent philosophical relfections on art and life by one of the most fascinating and under-recognized writers of all time)

5. The New Yorker - just about everything by Peter Schjeldahl, Shasha Frere-Jones and other remarkable writers from the weekly publication, simply can't do without it.

XI ZHANG INTERVIEW ON WESTWORD BLOG

Westword writer Benjamin Dayton interviews Plus Gallery featured artist Xi Zhang in conjunction with his exhibition "Awaking Dreams"


http://blogs.westword.com/showandtell/2010/12/xi_zhang_absurdist_interview.php 

RARE ART CELEBRATION THIS COMING MONDAY, DECEMBER 13TH

DENVER THEATRE DISTRICT HOSTS WINTER ART SALON AT CAULKINS OPERA HOUSE 5:30 - 7:30PM

If you haven't seen the latest massive outdoor artwork recently installed by the Denver Theatre District on the Champa side of the Caulkins Opera House, this coming monday is your chance to not only view one of the most dynamic compositions to date for the DTD's outdoor art gallery but to celebrate with a rare exhibition of the original artworks from artists involved.   The "Faces of Colorado Art" is a composition of Denver's most talented and respected contemporary artists who commonly utilize elements related to portraiture in their work.  In many cases the works are self portraits, in others the person immortalized is a leading figure in Denver's robust art scene, rounded out by select depictions of faces that simply resonate in an exquisite and singular fashion.





Artists involved in the composition include Halim Alkarim, Bill Amundson, Nate Baldwin, John Bonath, Sharon Brown, Lu Cong, Monique Crine, Michael Ensminger, Travis Egedy, Lui Ferrera, Stefan Kleinshuster, Wes Magyar, Laura Merage, Jenny Morgan, Tony Ortega, Maria Vlasic, Jay Vollmar and Xi Zhang.  Come find out who the "Faces of Colorado Art" are on Monday at the Chambers Grant Salon of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House and see an extensive viewing of original artworks.  The evening will include food and beverages, an introduction to the DTD's exciting first year with the Outdoor Art Gallery as well as a view into exciting opportunities in the coming months, as well as featured artists Sharon Brown talking about her current series "The Creators" which captures of Denver's art scene through a wide swath of figures within.

Definitely one of the holiday and year's not-to-be-missed events!

XI ZHANG AND NICK MUSAELIAN EXHIBITION CAPTIVATES AUDIENCE AT PLUS GALLERY

Despite the congestion of activity occuring downtown, Friday evening's opening reception for Xi Zhang's "Awakening Dreams" and Nick Musaelian's "Heroic Paintings" was a major success at Plus Gallery, with many of Denver's most notable art-world luminaries and collectors coming out to view the dynamic new paintings.  The general concensus from those who attended friday night is that this is one of the best exhibitions of the year.......and while this may be true, in our opinion it perfectly caps a year of simply outstanding exhibitions here at the gallery, including solo efforts by Bruce Price, Kate Petley and Mike Whiting, along with terrific group exhibitions such as the summer's "Invincible Cohort" and "You Are Here."

Please join us now through the holidays to see Zhang and Musaelian's terrific new works and all the prestigious artists that make up the Plus Gallery stable.


Plus Gallery owner Ivar Zeile with artist Xi Zhang


HUFFINGTON POST WRITEUP ON SWEETROCKET EXHIBITION AT DGB



While many are touting the merits of the current exhibition here at Plus, another one of our artists is drawing the same enthusiastic reaction for her exhibition at the Denver Botanic Gardens.  There is no denying that Riva Sweetrocket's collection of works looks simply stunning at the DGB, the exhibition will be on view through January 30th, a time in which the Gardens themselves dazzle with holiday lights and ambience.  Read what Huffington Post writer Tracy Shaffer had to say about the exhibition earlier this week: