OUR NEW GALLERY ARTIST TO OPEN EXHIBITION AT CITY OF SAINT JOHN GALLERY ON JULY 10

 

Andrea Brewer is another artist who will be exhibiting with Buckland Merrifield Gallery when we open this fall. A graduate of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (2001) and Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts (2007), Andrea was selected in 2014 for the Studio Watch Emerging Artist Award by the Beaverbrook Art Gallery.

This coming Friday, July 10, Andrea Brewer will be opening a solo exhibition at the City of Saint John Gallery, located within the Saint John Arts Centre. Andrea has sent me a  number of images of her new work, from the series, Perishables. I’m going to give you a preview of what you can expect to see hanging in the City Gallery next week.

Sophie, oil on wood panel, 40″ x 30″

3 apples tall, oil on wood panel, 48″ x 36″

but you can call me Charlie, oil on wood panel, 40″ x 30″

Andrea talked to me about her new series, and about her interest in the juxtapositions of technique, colour, pattern and imagery. She said, “I draw great inspiration from my studies in Art History and Anthropology, and have a particular interest in nature, nature’s creatures and their patterns. Perishables is a series of paintings that use these patterns as narrative.”

Ring around Rosie, we all fall down, oil on wood panel, 36″ x 24″

Leroy, oil on wood panel, 48″ x 48″

Until death do us part, oil on wood panel, 36″ x 36″

Andrea provided further insight into her approach for this series.

“The white, crisp backgrounds are suggestive of sterile, clean plains, and are reminiscent of white serving platters. In contrast, the patterned backgrounds are reflective of the domestic coverings that hide, shelter and decorate life. The use of a more subdued palette allows the viewer to connect with the subject and to witness their story in a deeper, more meaningful way.”

When I visited Andrea in her studio last month, I was particularly impressed by the energy that this work has. I found within her images an incredible freshness. The connection with her subjects is direct and immediate. These works are darkly humorous, but you can sense within the paintings the strong empathy that the artist has for her subjects.

I’ll leave you with just three more pieces. Don’t miss this exhibition next Friday at the City Gallery. I hope to see you there.

Camouflage for Maggie, oil on wood panel, 48″ x 36″

Maggie’s close call, oil on wood panel, 48″ x 36″

Rodeo, oil on wood panel, 48″ x 60″