Above: Leonardo Aguirre di Matteo posing with his work, “choca la ferrari!!”
Its that time again for First Friday! Our recommendations for checking out some great art this month …
Trifecta Gallery continues a hot streak of openings this summer with their third solo exhibition from Uruguayan artist Leonardo Aguirre di Matteo. His architecturally-influenced paintings have evolved to evoke minimalist abstraction. His earlier work contained realistic items: door knobs, tool boxes, paintbrushes–all brought forward with depth and shadow. Even his early approach to basic elements like dotted lines also used drop-shadows; something abstract made real. Di Matteo’s latest series goes fully abstract to embody a flat field not unlike a pinball machine, with flippers and gadgets made sense of by the dotted lines that connect their paths. He cites fellow countryman Joaquín Torres-García as an inspiration for his work; the constructivist influence tastefully harnessed in this succinct body of work.
Left to Right: Leonardo Aguirre di Matteo, “composicion”, “the kiss”
Local artist Chris Bauder crosses the line between painting at sculpture at Brett Wesley’s latest exhibition. His unique process is comprised of layering and dipping latex paint over sculptural forms. he also creates “sheets” of paint that are manipulated and folded like a satiny fabric. The final pieces vary in form from lip-like shadow boxes to larger bulbous sculptures. Each work is bursting with a liquid color, a result of the medium that gives them a candy-meets-S&M quality.
Left to Right, clockwise: Chris Bauder, “untitled (lips)”, “the glove maker”, untitled (lips)”, “cherry cherry (stingers)”
CoLab has relocated to Brett Sperry’s Art Square complex, and has gained some momentum as a result of the Young Guns show they did back in May. The City of Las Vegas contracted the seven architects, together with local artist Zak Ostrowski , to participate in a proposal for the Neon Gateway project to be completed downtown by 2017. The work is still in the planning stages and hasn’t been officially commissioned, but curator Amy Finchem described their collaboration and work sessions on the project as “completely fluid.” The original pieces from the Young Guns show, along with new sketches and renderings for the Neon Gateway project are on view in the gallery.
ArtsVegas: Covering Las Vegas Art and culture since 2009.
Written by David Hardy
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