Parking Lot Gallery

Allison Brandi mixes purposeful lines and simple blotches of color into one powerful image which fosters a storybook of emotion.  And hidden beneath all this, lies a deliberately subtractive background crafted through a variety of experimental techniques.   This particular untitled piece appears to be an innocent child left out in the cold, his rosy cheek the only proof of vitality.   The backdrop of brightly colored acrylics is obscured behind a coat gesso which suggests a thin layer of snow atop a lost world of prosperity.   I’ve looked at this piece many times and I still feel that there’s some deep meaning I’ve yet to discover, but maybe truly great artists never reveal all there is to know.

Allison Brandi - Untitled - 48" x 32"

Jonathan Levy’s extremely unique style blends acrylics on canvas to creates patterns that appear almost digital in origin.  Using twirling wisps of color, he loosely solidifies his image and creates little areas of sporadic motion which challenge the eye. It reminds me of stumbling around in a drunken stupor or maybe it represents the fragments of memories which are pieced together the morning after.  Real, fictitious or somewhere in between; the women in the painting is a beautiful way to remember any evening.

Jonathan Levy - Violet - 22" x 34"

Kevin Carroll’s IT is a terrified little creature and for good reason.  It not easy being a demon in today’s aggressively terrifying society.   Even with his armored skin,  barbed tail and razor teeth he’s no match for today’s super monsters.    Or maybe IT’s sheepish appearance is all a disguise.  He lures you in, only to strike when you least expect it.  This piece is a great reminder that behind every illustrator there’s a wild imagination which can be summoned at any moment.

Kevin Carroll - IT - 14" x 18"

Sarah Detweiler’s Brain Child makes me want to curl up into the fetal position and suck my thumb, yet its not depressing.  I’m almost comforted by this piece, its a reference to many familiar feelings.   Is the person relaxing peacefully, plotting revenge or hopelessly defeated?   What caused this condition and whats going to happen next?  No matter her intentions, Sarah’s combination of dreamy colors, hidden secrets and clever composition is joyfully thought provoking.

Sarah Detweiler - Brain Child - 42" x 30"

Oksana Prokopenko’s Blue Madonna is a modernistic reinterpretation of a timeless classic.  Religious mosaics normally find themselves in old cathedrals, but this piece seems to fit two time periods, one ancient and the other futuristic.  Its alien feel is what makes this piece so intriguing; it makes me wonder what futuristic civilization this piece might define.  Or is it our civilization?  And will future generations look back on this piece to remember our lives?  Either way its very enjoyable.

Oksana Prokopenko - Blue Madonna - 3' 8" x 2' 4"

Shaneika Marson’s ability to combined unique shapes, patterns and colors empowers very strong feelings in her paintings.    Yet, the powerful meaning is somehow able to elude me and I’m left happily guessing.  I keep trying to define shapes into objects but the colorful patterns distract my imagination.  Shanekia’s artwork is an engaging game.  Trying to piece together the clues and determine her underlying message is truly an entertaining experience.

Shaneika Marson - Untitled

At first glance, Sax Arba’s Winters Coming and Gone is delightfully faded and whimsical.  Then I looked closely and the frozen mist cleared to reveal remarkable depth, color and realistic detail.   Sax Arba’s mixed media creation is a perfect combination of its parts.  A gorgeous model posed in front of her winter backdrop and was camouflaged into the background.  The human collage was then photographed,  digitally altered,  printed and repainted to create the final illusion.  Sax Arba demonstrates how to use computers and photography as an artistic tool without diminishing the beauty only possible through the soft touch of the human hand.

Sax Arba - Winters coming and Gone - 4' x 4'

Alexander Percy’s La solucion a tu eterna locura is an amazing abstraction of greens, yellows and reds.  Its contrasting colors, textures and lines simulate a visual insanity which leads my mind in circles.  However, the beauty of abstract art is its ability to distance you from reality and defined ideas.  This piece is the solution for the overactive mind, it brings calm and is surprisingly comforting.

“La solucion a tu eterna locura” 42” x 60”

Nadine Guerrera’s Mustang Love is a mesmerizing performance piece and will be performed live at the exhibition.  Her artwork exemplifies the type of creativity the Parking Lot Gallery is trying to promote.   To me, her performance symbolizes the powerful, almost unnatural love people have for their cars, its truly spectacular.

Wink Wink Pony’s jolly jumping norwhal, SNAX, will not only bake the best cake at this Friday’s potluck, but he’ll eat the whole shabang. Its kind of gross actually, because all that chocolate and frosting just sticks to his braces as he talks up a storm between bites. But its okay, because he’s awesome. Pony’s creation exemplifies the fun and creative engineering behind her beloved characters. The background concept along with the unique mélange of common materials introduces the observer into the make-believe world of lollipop hill, all that remains is you.

Wink Wink Pony - SNAX