Thursday, March 29, 2012

DON'T MISS "OUT FIGURED" AT CVA, ON VIEW THROUGH APRIL 7TH

Easily one of the best exhibitions of contemporary art in Denver right now, whether in gallery, institution or on the street......and now the swan song by CVA's seven year veteran director Jennifer Garner, who will be stepping aside to dedicate her full attention to teaching art at Metro State........is the group show "Out Figured."   The exhibition features one of the most impressive displays of Plus Gallery artist Jenny Morgan's paintings to date,  along with high caliber works by several other esteemed and provocative artists.  Catch it before it comes down on April 8th!

R. JUSTIN STEWART DOCUMENTATION OF "DISTORTING (A MESSIAH PROJECT, 13C) NOW ON VIMEO


One of the hardest working artists in the field today, R. Justin Stewart launched his latest installation "Distorting (A Messiah Project, 13c) at the Invisible Dog Art Center in NYC.  He recently posted two terrific videos that allow us to experience the work (and installation of it) online.


http://vimeo.com/38593858
http://vimeo.com/38195895


Plus Gallery artist Riva Sweetrocket visited Justin for the opening  and sent us a couple of images from her new home in NYC!





MELISSA FURNESS FEATURED IN 40 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION AT AIR GALLERY IN NYC

Plus Gallery artist Melissa Furness will have her recent painting "Flection" on display in the group exhibition "Celebrating Kindred Spirits and Strange Bedfellows" at A.I.R. gallery for their 40th anniversary show, curated by Catherine Morris.  The exhibition, which features works by 20 National and International artists, commences on March 28th and will be on view through April 21st.

A.I.R. Gallery is located at
111 Front Street #228
Brooklyn, NY 11201

for more information visit their website at http://www.airgallery.org


WILLIAM BETTS FEATURED IN NEW ISSUE OF MODERN IN DENVER!

Plus Gallery artist William Betts is profiled in the new issue of Modern In Denver, fresh on the streets this week.  We'll soon have a link to this terrific, first of it's kind profile on one of the most acclaimed and original artists in the country, but look for a copy on the newsstands now.  In just a few short years, Modern In Denver has done something that few others have been able to in Denver:  create an engaging, well designed and formidable magazine that keeps increasing in quality across the board, one that is savvy on both art and architecture as well as all realms of design.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

MAJOR ARTICLE ON SHANNON NOVAK IN MARCH ISSUE OF LEBANESE PUBLICATION RAGMAG

It's not often that a Plus Gallery artist gets mentioned in a Lebanese lifestyle and fashion magazine, but we are pleased to report that Shannon Novak has a full 4-page featured in the March issue of "Ragmag" which also features an image of the his "Winged Crescendo" piece that graces the exterior awning here at Plus.


11 CEREMONIES - NEW PAINTINGS BY XI ZHANG NOW ON VIEW AT PLUS GALLERY



Xi Zhang opening reception (photo by Ryan Pattie)


Thanks to all who came out last Thursday evening to celebrate the opening of Xi Zhang's phenomenal new body of work "11 Ceremonies."  The exhibition has generated immediate high-praise from patrons and visitors to the gallery alike since launching last week, the work dense with vibrant imagery and Xi's explosive painting techniques. "11 Ceremonies" makes a major statement, one that is fascinating to interpret on one's own, but we feel that the artist's own personal reflections enhances the understanding of each individual work, which is why we highly recommend coming to join us on Wednesday, March 28th for Xi's informal discussion about the show.  Mark your calendars, the talk will start at 6:30pm.

Xi Zhang in his Denver studio (image courtesy of Steve MacGregor)

Xi Zhang - Scroll Paintings

The paintings comprising "11 Ceremonies" are on view in the main exhibition space at Plus Gallery, but that's not all that's new from Xi for the show.  Six of his recent "Scroll" paintings are mounted upstairs, and represent both a historic and humorous side to the artist and his work, also receiving high praise from the viewing audience so far.




JENNY MORGAN EXHIBITS HER FIRST VIDEO INSTALLATION THIS WEEKEND AT "ARTS | NOT FAIR" IN BROOKLYN



Plus Gallery sensation Jenny Morgan will exhibit her first Video-installation "Passage" at "Arts Not Fair: A Like the Spice Gallery Art Fair" to coincide with the Armory show and multiple art-fair events happening in NYC.  From the Like The Spice Press Office:


A special project created by Like the Spice will transform Like the Spice Gallery (224 Roebling Street Brooklyn, NY), into a month long "art fair" highlighting special projects by the Like the Spice Gallery artists, including Chino Amobi, Brian LaRossa, Allie Rex, Nicki Stager, Eric LoPresti, Jenny Morgan, Reuben Negron, Hans + Gieves, Matt Stone and more. "Arts Not Fair" will become the most important art event in New York, taking place nowhere near Piers 92 & 94 in Manhattan. Like the Spice is re-establishing itself as the most adventurous and dynamic contemporary art fair in New York City". (Line appropriated from The Armory Show website)"

Press Preview: Friday March 9th, 2012 4:00pm - 6:00pm

VIP Preview, benefiting the Arts Not Fair foundation: Friday March 9th, 2012 6:00-9:00pm

Opening reception: Saturday March 10th, 6-10pm with special performances, and panels during Williamsburg Armory Night.




Video still from "Passage", 2012. Video, 5 minutes. Jenny Morgan Booth #3 Section M

We applaud and can't help but admire the concept that Jenny's home-base in Brooklyn has created as a poignant commentary on the current art-fair culture, one that seems intent on removing the gallery-going experience that is so relevant to artist careers and provides the greatest merit for them.  Go visit Marisa, Jenny and the gang if you are out that way, it's sure to be one of the best experiences of the illustrious Armory week

TERRIFIC IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW WITH PLUS GALLERY ARTIST R. JUSTIN STEWART IN NY'S L-MAGAZINE


In conjunction with his upcoming string of East-coast exhibitions, NY's L-Magazine has devoted a large amount of space to an interview with Plus Gallery artist R. Justin Stewart.  Apparently they found him and his work as stimulating as we do:

".......But this is my first piece where I'm engaging with information that is slightly volatile, and I'm a little bit nervous about what that's going to be like. People do weird stuff about religion." - R. Justin Stewart, 3 hour interview with L-Magazine

Read the full text online at http://www.thelmagazine.com/newyork/inside-the-artists-studio-r-justin-stewart-in-bed-stuy/Content?oid=2215450

NEW AMUNDSON'S, RETTIG AND PARKHILL AT PLUS GALLERY


Along with the new works by Xi Zhang in the exhibition "11 Ceremonies," Plus Gallery will also unveil new works by Bill Amundson, fresh from his visit last month for his Art Students League workshops.  We also have a new, large-scale assemblage from Aspen based artist Hunt Rettig, and the latest from up-and-coming artist Austin Parkhill, who is currently painting in the North Pole.  Come see these, as well as select works from Apocalypse How artists Drew Englander, Donald Fodness and Larry Bob Phillips.

Bill Amundson : Portrait of an Artist

Bill Amundson: Store with Sign (Hard Times VIII)

Austin Parkhill: Jamie

Hunt Rettig: Time for Two



Thursday, March 1, 2012

OPENING NEXT THURSDAY, MARCH 8th - XI ZHANG "11 CEREMONIES"


PLUS GALLERY ARTIST R. JUSTIN STEWART COMMENCES NEW SERIES OF NY EXHIBITIONS MARCH 10TH

Plus Gallery artists R. Justin Stewart has created some of the most striking installations in the country by an emerging artist in the last decade, works that are both intellectually and formally complex. In 2012 he will unveil "The Messiah Project," a series of exhibitions that take on a controversial theme and update it in a thoroughly contemporary context.  His first kicks off on March 10th at the Invisible Art Center in Brooklyn, NY:

DISTORTING (A MESSIAH PROJECT, 13C)
Opening Reception is on March 10th 6-10pm

March 10 - May 5th 2012
The Invisible Art Center
51 Bergen St Brooklyn, NY

When most people think of "the Messiah," they can have a singular view of what the concept captures, represented by our contemporary understanding. "Distorting (a messiah project, 13C)," is the first installation in a research intensive series of sculptures and installations that challenges conventional wisdom around one of history's most controversial subjects. "Distorting," an intricate web of fleece, rope, and plastic, is a three-dimensional representation of the concept of the messiah, as it existed in the 13th Century. As viewers move through and around the installation, they will find QR (quick response) codes embedded throughout the sculpture. By scanning those codes with cell phones or other mobile devices, they will be able to access the bit of data each pod represents and therefore begin to draw connections between the sculptural elements and the history of the messianic concept. "Distorting," part of the larger "a messiah project" series, will be installed on the ground floor of the Invisible Dog Art Center, curated by Risa Shoup.

 

Stewart will follow up with a heavy itinerary this spring and early summer:


ILLUMINATING DATA: VISUALIZING THE INFORMATION THAT MOVES OUR WORLD
March 14 through April 19, 2012
The College of New Jersey Art Gallery
2000 Pennington Road Ewing, NJ
tcnjartgallery.pages.tcnj.edu

DISTORTING (A MESSIAH PROJECT, 14C)
March 23 - April 1st
37th St Chashama Space
266 West 37th Street New York, NY
www.chashama.org

(UN)FOLDING PATTERNS
May 20th - July 22nd, 2012
Dorsky Gallery
11-03 45th Ave, Long Island City, NY
www.dorsky.org

UPCOMING DAMC STUDIO TOURS INCLUDE PLUS GALLERY ARTISTS XI ZHANG AND BRUCE PRICE

The DAM Contemporaries launch the first of this year's artist studio visits on Saturday, March 10th.  Plus Gallery artists Xi Zhang and Bruce Price are both on the itinerary, each has moved into a new studio in the past year and both are highly relevant to the local contemporary scene today.  You must be a member of the DAMC to join, the schedule is as follows:


Saturday March 10, 2012
2:00 - 4:15pm    $10
Limited to 20 DAMC members

2:00 -3:00 pm
Xi Zhang's Studio (Santa Fe Art District)


Influenced by pop culture and social media platforms, Xi Zhang mines material for his art from what he refers to as "twenty-first century DNA" -- Facebook, video games, advertisements and Google searches. Zhang's use of the fantastic -- that slipstream realm between the real and unreal -- challenges our judgments of technology and media.


3:15 - 4:15pm
Bruce Price's Studio (RiNo Art District)


Utilizing a painterly approach, Bruce Price employs a series of patterns, colors and textures to create an extraordinary sense of depth, dimension, and visual rhythm in his work. He has become one of Denver's most lauded contemporary painters by delving into the nuances that have long typified the ornamental genre.       

Reservations:       
Please call 720-913-0150 by March 5
You will receive driving directions when you make your reservation

Questions:
damc@denverartmuseum.org

FOOTAGE FROM LAST WEEKEND'S "NEW SPHERE" PERFORMANCE AT PLUS GALLERY POSTED TO YOUTUBE

Fun night, what a crowd!  To see what you missed or to relive selections of the evening, visit our youtube page for the following clips:

http://youtu.be/eeZ5y-7ZsY4
http://youtu.be/cAeS06fJ-kc
http://youtu.be/dPIwW-TqXLY

Another great opportunity to check out Drew Englander's "Real Magic" is this coming Saturday, March 3rd.  Drew will be performing again at the Larimer Lounge preceding the awesome national band Yacht that night.  We highly recommend being there for both groups.
Drew Englander - performance interlude

Pictureplane!

THE APOCALYPSE IS ALMOST OVER: FINAL WEEK FOR "APOCALYPSE? HOW!" AT PLUS GALLERY

Plus Gallery's current exhibition "Apocalypse? HOW!" will conclude this weekend, please stop by during regular hours through Saturday March 3rd to view.  Plus Gallery will remain open for extended hours till 7pm this Friday, March 2nd for Denver's monthly first Friday gallery stroll.

The exhibition delivers on the premise that the apocalypse is both a historic concept as well as a figment of our collective imaginations, a proposed occurrence that expands boundaries that substantiate life.  The works on view by four premier emerging artists Drew Englander, Donald Fodness, Paul Nudd and Larry Bob Phillips are fun, moving, visceral and ultimately another quality depiction of contemporary art today.  Don't miss out this final week!
"Abort Mission Hail Mary  (detail)," Donald Fodness, 2011