It’s been a while since I’ve done any kind of gallery related stuff. In spite of my art school edumacation (What, you didn’t know I have a degree in painting and drawing? I do!) and my many years of perching in under-heated and under-ventilated studios where I made a mighty attractive mess, I’ve never been too keen on the gallery scene. The reason is, I think, the divide between the people that make art and the people that buy it. Wow, it’s huge. It’s weird to make art and have people wearing shoes that cost more than your painting is selling for bicker with you about the price. Especially when you’re wearing second hand Chuck Taylors.
But I’m a snob. Going to galleries is fun. In the midst of the artist subculture, I’d forgotten that. It’s fun to go look at weird things in cool spaces and bonus, sometimes there’s really great food. In fact, I’m sort of embarrassed that it’s the food we were enticed by, our friends mentioned that the spread these folks put on is stellar and okay, I was hungry.
But I really liked the show. I didn’t like all the work in it, but I liked the theme — Underwater — and there were a number of pieces in the exhibit that I really enjoyed. I especially liked Zhang Huan’s large format photographs and the magically perfect giant ice cube and the huge turquoise blue swimming pool painting. I left the building thinking that I would very much like to print up some large format photographs and that I should unpack my oil paints. And if it took a full belly to inspire me — and wow, they were not wrong, the food was outstanding — well, I’m okay with that.
Western Bridge is at 3412 Fourth Avenue South. The exhibit is up until August 1st.
Great post. I love a glass of wine and a stroll around a gallery – there’s nothing better. The events where you can meet the artist as well are top notch.
I always feel inspired and full of ideas after leaving some of my favourite galleries here in Edinburgh.