QuintGallery.com

SAN DIEGO — Ever since Renaissance Venice, painters have traditionally worked by painting on cloth stretched taut over a rectangular frame made from strips of wood. But in the mid-1970s, when some artists and critics were claiming that painting was dead and ripe for burial, Kim MacConnel instead changed the rules of the painting game.

Two unexpected approaches emerged. Using bright acrylics, he painted on salvaged thrift-store furniture — sofas, tufted chairs and chaises. And, in lieu of off-white cotton canvas, he painted on strips of plain or commercially printed fabric, which he sewed together, did not stretch and simply push-pinned to the wall.

So what is the difference between a traditional canvas on rectangular stretchers and upholstery fabric stretched taut over a wooden frame assembled at a factory in the shape of a chair? Or commercial fabric hanging loose and free?

“I try to paint a glass in total restraint of any personal involvement, and without a flicker of emotion. Each one is a new one. In any observation of reality, no one ‘glass painting’ is exactly like the one before – similar to an industrial product – but original within a series – without uniqueness – without ‘stroke of genius.’”

– Peter Dreher, 1994

Quint Contemporary Art is pleased to announce the opening of Drawings and Paintings, Peter Dreher’s fifth solo exhibition at the gallery. There will be an opening reception for the artist on May 7, from 6 to 8 PM. The exhibition will feature two-dozen “Tag um Tag Guter Tag (Day by Day a Good Day)” paintings as well as a dozen “Vitrine” still-life paintings and a group of Dreher’s new flower drawings.

Quint Contemporary Art is pleased to exhibit new paintings by San Diego based artist Kelsey Brookes. The exhibition, BIGGER, BRIGHTER, BOLDER will be on view from November 20th through January 16th, 2010. This will be the artists first solo exhibition with Quint Contemporary Art. An opening reception will be held on Friday, November 20th from 6 to 8 PM and will include musical performances by The Dabbers and Lion Cut.

San Diego based artist, Kelsey Brookes, presents a fresh body of work that displays 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 by demonstrating 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 characters engage in all sorts of activity rewarding the careful viewer with a clear sense of joy.