Bigger, Brighter, Bolder

Here is the Quint show flyer:

You will also notice that there are 2 bands playing the opening. *The Dabbers* and *Lion Cut* so do not forget to bring your dancing shoes!

Studio Visit

Below are some studio shots. I love the feel of the studio right before a show. The space is cramped with paintings and half finished ideas.....good things happening everywhere. It definitely feels like things are starting to come together after 9 months of working. Its a good feeling.

Here are the details:

KELSEY BROOKES:

BIGGER, BRIGHTER, BOLDER
Exhibition Dates: Friday, November 20, 2009 - Saturday, December 19, 2009
Opening Reception: November 20, 2009, 6-8pm
Quint Gallery
7739 Fay Avenue, La Jolla CA
(858) 454-3409 www.quintgallery.com

Here is what the gallery says about the show;

Quint Contemporary Art is pleased to exhibit new works by artist Kelsey Brookes. Brookes has been a quite fixture on the San Diego art scene while gaining great notoriety abroad. Having debuted last year with his first solo exhibition in the United States, Quint Contemporary Art is pleased to exhibit Kelsey Brookes new body of paintings in the artists first solo exhibition in San Diego.

San Diego based artist, Kelsey Brookes, presents a fresh body of work that exhibits a strong and unique interplay with figure, abstract forms and text. Brookes’ new work increases the sense of awe and wonder found in his signature style with a “loosening” of the figure – where once the female forms had sharply defined contours and rendered details, they are now symbolic canvases for his seemingly limitless constellation of brightly colored micro scenes and characters. The work presents a captivating aura – from afar the small characters, shapes and patterns read as a more or less abstract swirl of color. Up close, the smiley faces and characters engage in all sorts of activity rewarding the careful viewer with a clear sense of joy.

The works in this exhibition represent personal meditations on spirituality and humanity. In the artist’s own words, his ‘work draws influence from Hindu and Buddhist deities, exotic animals and sex, as well as rustic American quilts.’ This plethora of reference points is usually executed with a central figure surrounded with an aura of objects, animals and plants. The work in this exhibition also showcases the artist’s fascination with literary works and words incorporating Brookes brightly colored and well placed text into the pieces. Brookes also draws reference from the British painter Francis Bacon with painterly splashes of color leaving raw bold marks on the canvas.

Brookes has been featured in numerous pop culture and design publications such as GQ, Modern Painters, Paper, Juxtapoz, Beautiful Decay, Dazed and Confused, RE:UP, and HUCK. The artist has also teamed up for illustration work with the likes of RVCA, VANS, and Insight 51 as well as musical sensation Grand Ole Party.

More Detail, More Detail

Here are some more detail shots of the upcoming show. Im having such a good time with the details on these paintings. Lots more saturation of color and having black back after a year of no black is really helpful too. I'll have some studio shots to post here pretty soon too.....

Monster Children Interview

I did a little interview in this months Monster Children Magazine. I also have some art on the cover along with Dane Reynolds doing some sort of back flip thing. Super stoked! Thanks to Mr. Kill Pixie for actually coming up with some good questions and to MC for the interest.

I never realized how overly analytical I can get until I read the interview. I seriously need to relax a bit. I try and pack in every unedited thought in on every subject I can here. Maybe maturing is realizing that you can never come across like you like to think you do.....C'est la vie.

There is come cool stuff about the new work for the Quint Show that will open in just a few weeks.......I better get back to painting actually.

Up Close

Here are some detail images of a few new paintings for the upcoming show. November 20th at Quint Contemporary art in La Jolla. Hard at work finishing up paintings that I started like 9 months ago for the show.

Literary Headache

Went up to Escondido last week to see the Quint show up there. The museum didn't allow photos of the work so this is going to be very short. I have never understood the no photo policy but whateves.

I saw this peacock of a woman walking around outside the show and I had to talk to her. Turns out she was turning 80 the next day and had been dressing up all week to bring in the occasion. Can you read what her socks say?
This is a giant pile of books....the inside of which has been carved out. I put Lauren inside to see what would happen before I decided to venture in myself. She came out with a much deeper appreciation for literature....I came out with a headache.

P.S. I got in trouble for taking this photo....

California Center for the Arts, Escondido

Quint Contemporary will be adding "Horse Meat" (the painting in the previous post) to the show at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido. This will be the first time I have had a painting in a "Museum" so that is radical. Escondido is an interesting place too. It is home to one of my favorite things in San Diego.....Queen Calafia's Magical Circle Garden. This sculpture garden is the product of model turned artist Niki De Saint Phalle.

Anyway enough about that.....here is the info on the Show;

August 15–December 31, 2009

Quint: Three Decades of Contemporary Art

Sustainability of the art world is based on the concerted effort of a collective commonwealth of museums, galleries, auction houses and art collectors, all linked together by a common thread - the art and the artist. This exhibition, a survey of artists shown by Quint Gallery, will explore how the vision of one local gallery has contributed to the commonwealth and document the changes seen in the artistic community of San Diego, in the art world, and for each individual artist as they have found their notoriety and artistic voice.

Featuring paintings, sculptures, installations, drawings and prints, the exhibition will include work by bold and innovative artists such as Jean Lowe, Mel Bochner, Kim MacConnel, Ryan McGinness, Manny Farber and Patricia Patterson. Exhibited together, the creations of these working artists embody the vitality of the past three decades of art, and will further the public’s understanding and appreciation of our current contemporary art scene.

Gary Lang, Future Circles, 1998.
acrylic on canvas, unique, 113" diameter
Collection of Michael Krichman and Carmen Cuenca
© Gary Lang
Photo courtesy of Quint Contemporary Art

Ryan McGinness, The True Knowledge of Things, 2007.
acrylic on canvas, unique, 96&quotx96" Collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
© Ryan McGinness Studios, Inc.
Photo courtesy of Quint Contemporary Art

Thomas Glassford, Aster 140 T8/4100 K, 2007.
fluorescent light, nickel over brass, electrical hardware, unique, 78–3/4" diameter
Collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
© Thomas Glassford
Photo courtesy of Quint Contemporary Art