1821 Gallery & Studios

1821 Gallery & Studios updated their business hours.

Today is the last day 1821 Gallery & Studios will be open. It is bittersweet, we have had our best year ever and the past 7 and half years has been some of the best times of our lives. We are moving on to new adventures; traveling, spending time with the grandchildren, and enjoying our retirement.
We bid you a fond farewell and thank you from the bottom of hearts for your patronage for the past 7 years. We wish you happy holidays, peace and happiness!
Sincerely,
Bruce & Carol Kalkowski

TONIGHT. LAST ARTHOP. 5-8PM

Ladies and Gentlemen, the time has come for us to bid you adieu.
This Thursday, December 5 will be the final Art hop for 1821 Gallery & Studios. We will be closing December 24th after over 7 successful years as one of Fresno's premier fine art galleries. It's time for new adventures for Bruce and Carol Kalkowski, and they look forward to thanking you in person for your support over the years.

Thank you Donald Munro!

ArtHop picks: Holly Downing at 1821 Gallery, Robert Ogata and more Also: 1821 Gallery & Studios will close at the end of the year.

ArtHop Tonight, 5-8PM
1821 Studio is proud to announce the showing of Holly Downing’s Paintings in Praise of Cultural Diversity. This sophisticated body of work will be exhibited November 7th to December 24th 2019, and opening, November 7th for Art Hop, 5:00-8:00pm.

Holly Downing is a painter and printmaker who has been making mezzotint engravings since the 1970s. She studied painting and printmaking at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and the Royal College of Art, London. She lived in the UK for 6 years where she received a National Endowment to research and make mezzotints. Aside from her sophisticated education, Her paintings and mezzotints have been exhibited in solo exhibitions in London, Edinburgh, Manila, Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Cruz and Berkeley. Her work can be found in various museum collections. This includes The Library of Congress, New York Public Library, as well as a multitude of other esteemed museums.

What makes Downing’s passageway and textile pieces so unique, is the sacred meaning behind each and every one, as well as the inspiration that drove Downing to create. Downing aims for her passageway and arch paintings to embody the realm of the “liminal”, which is derived from the Latin “limen”, meaning “threshold”. Anthropologist Victor Turner describes the liminal as a transitional quality essential to all rites of passage. It is the state in-between, without a fixed identity, but with openness and ambiguity.

Please join us for this exciting exhibition opening night for Art Hop, November 7th 5:00-8:00pm.

ARTHOP, TONIGHT!! Anne Whitehurst, Veritas, exhibition on display. Tonight, Thursday, October 3, 5-8PM

Opening tonight - ANNE WHITEHURST: VERITAS. ArtHop tonight 5-8PM

Join us TONIGHT for ARTHOP, 5-8PM. Come see David Samuels Fragments in a Paracosm, final night.
1821 Gallery & Studios will be closed for summer break after tonight, we will reopen September 4 with new work by Anne Whitehurst.

1821 Gallery is thrilled to present Fragments in a Paracosm, the latest showcase of dynamic and bold paintings by Central California born artist David Samuels.

For almost a decade Samuels has constructed a subject matter in his art with the key focus on concepts of transformation and metamorphosis. In this new body of work that he has been creating for the last three years he leads his audience through an opened ended exploration in a world where visual narratives become an intriguing experience for the viewer. The method of exercising mixed media techniques, along with the influences of creating the unknown has always been the driving force behind his paintings. It’s a powerful orchestrated interaction that sets a direction to embody a motion to provoke the elevation of a calming meditative state.

Fragments in a Paracosm is described from the artist as “A collection of an honest energy comprised with tattered visions showing glimpses of a world where color, language, and spirits scrimmage for an identity.” Samuels plays his role in a new generation of artist that practice their expressionism through abstract forms. He has carefully carved his forte to be at its prime. Demonstrating a keen awareness of his surroundings, the artist creates a surreal atmosphere filled with mystery and structural integrity. His aim is to be able to create and implement conversations that can hold bold qualities that the onlooker may want to share through an open avenue of communication. It is a unique experience when searching for a concept that may be difficult to explain with words, it's a healthy separation between the thinking mind and the observing mind. The viewer might find themselves surprised with more curiosity as they dive into the several layers of paint that hold a special significance that they hold within.

ART HOP TONIGHT - DAL HENDERSON
5-8 PM
Plus, Not Hop, 8-10PM, live music by Anne Whitehurst and Low Moon. Beer and Wine available at the Tap Truck.

Dal Henderson exhibition, Opening Thursday.
Artist Statement:
My work is not only about the product, but about the process to reach that end. The differences that occur between one completed piece and another are a result of constant decision making. I deal with materials as honestly as possible, seeking to develop cohesive surfaces.
Making a painting starts with a trip to the lumber yard to buy wood, glue, screws, nails and staples for the stretcher bars which I make to stretch the canvas onto. A table saw is used to cut the wood. Canvas is ordered and delivered to the house. Next I cut, stretch and prime the canvas. I mention these steps to show the nuts and bolts of art making. My work reflects an interest in finding color relationships which take shape by moving paint around on the canvas. The visual information is very often a surprise and mistakes can be used to further push toward the discovery of new ways to make a picture.
My primary goal is to make art that is both closed and open. The art is closed when the surface seems complete. It remains open because it doesn’t necessarily deal with representational imagery. It is its own image, its own idea, and there are questions that haven’t been answered. The end result of my art making is that I have a fragment of reality. It is a piece of something I can hold on to.

Art Hop TONIGHT! Join us 5-8PM for Michael Garcia, new work exhibition and Ooh De Lolli Kitchen Works and Fine Edibles

MICHAEL GARCIA OPENING!
Join us tonight for the opening of Michael Garcia's new work exhibition. Also, The Tap Truck will be on location and live music by Jerry Thurston following ArtHop for NotHop. 5-10PM

Mixed media artist Michael Garcia is returning to 1821 Gallery & Studios with his new exhibition. This outstanding body of work will be exhibited from April 4 thru May 11.

Garcia will be showing 11 new pieces. He creates richly textured works on panels with a process that involves building up layers of paint then tearing them down by scraping, sanding, burning, to reveal a surface that has the abused and weathered quality of an object damaged by time. Garcia’s work reflects his immersion in Japanese culture and aesthetic, from ten years spent living and working in Japan.

Please join us for an artist reception Saturday April 6, 3-7PM

In addition to our regular hours 1821 Gallery & Studios will be open for Art Hop April 4 and May 2, 11-8PM, and NOT HOP with music following Art Hop, 8-10. We look forward to sharing Michael Garcia’s new work with you.

ArtHop Tonight, 5-8PM & NotHop (the after hours, live music and refreshments) 8-10PM.
Join us for the opening of the Kevin Stewart Magee exhibition and beverages by Tap Truck.

1821 Gallery and Studios is proud to present the impressionistic oil paintings of Fresno City College Painting Instructor Kevin Stewart – Magee.
This work is about time, history and memory; forces and influences that are as invisible as the wind, seen best in their effect. None of these objects or places were new, working or occupied, at the time they were painted. For a moment they were quiet performances of light and shadow.

Perhaps a cycle of conception, function, retirement and abandonment runs quietly, slowly beneath the surface of
our homes, schools, jobs and lives. Cheerfully, running on and on like a model train, always forward, in a circle — an arc of exhaustion and engagement. Kevin Stewart- Magee was born on a military base in Iran and raised in and around Columbus, Ohio. He earned his BFA from the Ohio State University and his MFA from CSU Fullerton. He teaches all levels of painting and murals at Fresno City College.

Art Hop is March 7th 5-8. Don’t forget to stay for
“NOTHOP” from 8-10 and enjoy the musical
talents of The Terry Barnes Trio, acoustic folk. Also
please come and welcome the TAP TRUCK which
will be parked out front of the Gallery serving a
variety of wine, craft beers and Riley’s root beer!

ArtHop this THURSDAY, February, 7, 5-8PM -
1821 Gallery & Studios is thrilled to have internationally known and accomplished Carmel artist Keith Lindberg exhibiting now through February 16.

It is hard to classify Lindberg’s style. He has trouble describing it. He came out of art school painting abstract because it was the 1950’s and that’s what was happening, but when he came to Carmel in the 60’s he started painting what appealed to him. It took years to hone his craft, but eventually he developed his own distinct style--a colorful contemporary combination of abstract and impressionism. His paintings are full of broad strokes and bold, bright colors. He’s been called “swashbuckler with paint”. Lindberg explains, “I’m always working on total format, the balance of color ad value: the proportion of it, the clarity of how it comes together, how one color meets another and where the value change takes place. I never really solve it, but I try.” Lindberg’s paintings explode with color and energy.

ALSO, Join us for NOTHOP - after ArtHop Entertainment

After overwhelming interest in something more after ArtHop, 1821 Gallery & Studios has created NotHop. This is a music and social period from 8-10. Live music and refreshments will be available. We hope to continue this every ArtHop to where 1821 Gallery becomes THE place to drop in after hours. This NotHop will feature the wonderful music of singer songwriter Anne Whitehurst. So why not extend your cultural evening to include NotHop in your plans.

Join us tonight for ArtHop, 5-8PM, for the opening of Keith Lindberg exhibition AND for the after hours "Not Hop" with live music by Anne Whitehurst and band from 8-10PM.

1821 Gallery & Studios is thrilled to have internationally known and accomplished Carmel artist Keith Lindberg exhibiting January 3 – February 16.
It is hard to classify Lindberg’s style. He has trouble describing it. He came out of art school painting abstract because it was the 1950’s and that’s what was happening, but when he came to Carmel in the 60’s he started painting what appealed to him. It took years to hone his craft, but eventually he developed his own distinct style- -a colorful contemporary combination of abstract and impressionism. His paintings are full of broad strokes and bold, bright colors. He’s been called “swashbuckler with paint”. Lindberg explains, “I’m always working on total format, the balance of color ad value: the proportion of it, the clarity of how it comes together, how one color meets another and where the value change takes place. I never really solve it, but I try.” Lindberg’s paintings explode with color and energy.

Lindberg’s show opens for Art Hop January 3rd. 5-8PM

French artist Ivana Minafra is returning to 1821 Gallery & Studios for her second show as a featured artist. Profondeurs is the title of the new show. Minafra was born in Genoa, Italy and has been living and working in Bar le Duc, France since 2003. She has been painting for 25 years. A friendship with local artist Leslie Batty and Batty's association with 1821 Gallery & Studios resulted in Minafra's successful 2016 show, Traces of California.

Ivana describes her process and the meaning of this show; Every human being is an evolving process. Artists emphasize this truth and make it visible. I've been painting for 25 years. Since always the light has been the centre of my art-searching. The power of light to reveal the hidden beauty. To transform the ordinary into the extraordinary - Pure alchemy.

Our boring daily journey by car, the road we ride on may become a moment of bliss. Zen culture and meditation, which have been part of my life since a long time have probably shaped my art-making too, helping me to be more synthetic and vivid, to substrate rather than add.

Since my beginnings urban landscape has been a recurring presence in my paintings. For the first time in this second solo exhibition at 1821 Gallery natural landscape makes its appearance in some of my paintings. White paths in Northern France thick woods. Walking in the woods being more and more important in my everyday life, I expected they would be part of my inspiration sooner or later.

It has become for me what going to church is for the faithful. It's prayer.

After painting these scenes I realized that they had an fundamental element in common with my urban views: emphasized perspective. Hence the title of my show, "Profondeurs", French word for “Depths”. When I paint I explore, my palette, my subjects often change. They make circles, disappearing and then coming back, following my moods and soothing my mind.

We live in a world of standardization and specialization. We don't have time, we never stop to breath and the art-system is not immune to this virus of labeling and bar-coding everything. Quickly. The quickest an artist is recognizable the best. A few seconds on social media. In my case it might take a bit longer. Hopefully my fingerprints are in my style, in my gesture painting which is always the same, whether I paint a parking lot in LA or a white path in French woods. I need to be free to wander in my inspiration. Art making is for me an act of love, nothing I can plan or calculate. Every single time. No labels, no limits.

We look forward to sharing with you the beautiful works of Ivana Minafra.