We Must Be Bold

Oil paint is a type of slow-drying paint that consists of particles of pigment suspended in a drying oil, commonly linseed oil. The viscosity of the paint may be modified by the addition of a solvent such as turpentine or white spirit, and varnish may be added to increase the glossiness of the dried film. Oil paints have been used in Europe since the 12th century for simple decoration, but were not widely adopted as an artistic medium until the early 15th century. Common modern applications of oil paint are in finishing and protection of wood in buildings and exposed metal structures such as ships and bridges. Its hard-wearing properties and luminous colors make it desirable for both interior and exterior use on wood and metal. Due to its slow-drying properties, it has recently been used in paint-on-glass animation. Thickness of coat has considerable bearing on time required for drying: thin coats of oil paint dry relatively quickly. Gallery1988 (WEST) is proud to announce the opening of "SPACE: The Gallery Show," a group exhibit curated by artist Mike Mitchell, this Friday, June 21st. The show, which will celebrate the past, present & future of space exploration and the awesomeness that is the universe, will feature over 50 amazing artists all working in many different mediums. The show will feature new artwork from G1988 regulars like Mitchell, Scott C., Andrew DeGraff, Olly Moss, N.C. Winters and Justin White, but also include new names to the gallery, like Jeffrey Brown, Dave Correia, John Martz and Emily Partridge. This show promises to be new, unique and memorable - and people may want to get to the gallery early for "first in line giveaways." Bennett is an illustrator and designer who spends most of his days glued to old science fiction fantasy films and Saturday morning cartoons. This fascination with the imaginatively absurd has formed a surprisingly stable connection with the way his mind imagines the constraints of the physical form, or lack thereof.Utilizing traditional oil media on natural wooden surfaces, Bennett is heavily inspired by the sharp dualities observed in his world’s natural and cultural ecosystems. He is constantly searching to uncover the balances between the structured form we perceive logically, and the nostalgic flirtations we conjure internally.His work is partly influenced by the precise forms and soft palettes of the Baroque masters, and the bold geometric intensity of the Russian Avant-Garde and Futurism movements. This dichotomy of contrasting artistic disciplines and influences lends itself to the underlying dualities observed in his work. As the acclaimed British art critic, David Sylvester once said, “Warhol turned to photographs of stars, as the Renaissance turned to antiquities, to find images of gods”. Bennett’s work strives to bridge that divide. Hours: Wed - Sun: 11 AM - 6 PM Mon & Tues: Closed