There’s no shortage of things to do in and around Asheville this weekend. Here’s another:
Opening Saturday, October 4th
7-10 pm, Exhibition will be on display through October 30thASHEVILLE, NC– Pump Gallery is proud to present:
Drawings + Constructions – work by local artist Phillip McGuire
Spanning the sensibilities of both drawing and sculpture, Phillip McGuire’s work marries a minimalist aesthetic with an affinity for illustration and a deep respect for craft.
McGuire’s love of Japanese aesthetic traditions resonates in his drawings. “The negative space in his work is powerful and provocative, and the art itself is a process that offers a rebate that is pleasing and gives the work a meditative feeling,” says Flood Gallery Director, Jolene Mechanic.
Asymmetrical and slightly off-center compositions suggest the snapshot (and hence a “moment”), rather than the formal portrait with its attendant connotations of permanence. “The expansive negative spaces are not ‘empty’,” McGuire says, “rather, I believe they have a visual and emotional weight that is almost what the entire work is about.” McGuire’s work conveys a sense of the inner life of the subject, conjuring an experience of intimacy and psychological presence for the viewer. “It is these fleeting, haiku-like glimpses of another soul that I find beautiful,” McGuire says.
The work is done on hand built, large-scale, gessoed wood panels. Each panel receives several coats of gesso for a velvety surface before the drawings are done, and upon completion several coats of matte varnish are applied to protect the image.
A long time resident of North Carolina, Phillip McGuire currently lives in Asheville. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Art Marketing and Production from Appalachian State University, he worked for several years as an assistant to artist William Dunlap.
McGuire’s work will be on display for the month of October, with an opening reception on Saturday, October 4th from 7-10 pm.
Pump Gallery, a sister gallery to the Flood Gallery, is located in the Phil Mechanic Studios building at 109 Roberts Street, in Asheville’s River Arts District, 28801. For more information, call 828-254-2166, or visit www.philmechanicstudios.com
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