The first two completed New Neighbors portraits have been included in a historic show at the Durham Arts Council. It’s the first time in its storied history that DAC has curated a show from within. Barclay McConnell has created a unique showing of differing emphasis, technique and mood. And she’s brought all of this together from Triangle artists. She might cringe, but Washington, D.C. could use more folks like her. For exhibit deets:

http://www.thirdfridaydurham.com/events/view/509
http://www.durhamarts.org/exhibits.html

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Here’s a quick synopsis from the press release associated with the show (which you can download below):

The Durham Arts Council (DAC) presents People You May Know, an exhibition of non-traditional, contemporary portraits that aims to celebrate the diversity and richness of our regional community. The exhibit will be on display in the DAC’s Allenton and Semans Galleries from OCTOBER 8, 2010 through JANUARY 9, 2011 and features work by nine area artists working in a variety of two-dimensional media. The exhibition also highlights two artistic projects by Durham community activists: the Community Portrait of Durham and the New Neighbors project. The public is invited to the artists’ reception on Third Friday, October 15, from 5 to 7 PM, which will include the official unveiling of the Community Portrait of Durham as well as a surprise portraiture-related art happening.

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So my commentary on this show is short and sweet. Simply put, I’m honored to be included with this group and by this organization. As I see community being built in Durham across all age groups, socio-economic status, race, interests, ambition, etc., it’s great to be a part of a show that makes this a point of emphasis. Reminds me of my last show with the folks at LabourLove. There’s something about this town that makes this the norm rather than the exception. Anyhow, the artists are acclaimed, the vibe is positive, the venue is prepped and everyone is hungry for the weekend. We have wine, thanks to Wine Authorities, so I will see you there!

Here’s the current list of press associated with the show (this will undoubtedly grow):
Press Release for the People You May Know exhibit (featuring New Neighbors work)
People You May Know exhibit column in The Durham News by curator, Barclay McConnell
People You May Know featured in The Duke Chronicle
People You May Know featured in The Durham Herald-Sun
People You May Know featured in The Durham News (again!)

In my current work, I combine my interest in political science with art and investigate how cities and communities form and change. Just as a family is bound by the house they live in, a city ties its people together through common spaces. I am interested in the public domain and how people create an atmosphere and commonality within it. In my art, I want to capture a city’s unique atmosphere and how it separates itself from other urban landscapes.

The series of paintings and prints completed in October 2008 explores the public square of Munich, Vienna, and Zurich. After spending the summer of 2008 in Philadelphia, I completed a group of paintings focusing on New York City and Philadelphia. I just finished a series of work inspired by a trip to San Francisco. Right now, I’m focusing on Durham and NYC.

If you love Durham, then you’ll love you some of these paintings. And an example of her latest work:

Here’s a bit from Brad:

In my paintings, I insert representational images into abstract distorted and agitated environments. The effect is a tactile surface – my immersion in painterly improvisation – set into an uneasy alliance with the more delicately rendered objects of metaphor. The resulting juxtaposition, of the representational and the abstract, is full of conflict and contradiction, generating a space in which everything competes for rational comprehension because there is too much to take in. And an example of his work: