As summer turns into fall our attention turns to a selection of work carefully curated for the month of September. While this exhibition is online we welcome studio visits by appointment. Please enjoy the show by clicking the image above.
Kevin Boyle is a renowned photographer operating from Vancouver, BC. While creating his immense and thought provoking images Boyle is also a full time law enforcement professional on the front lines of our collective fight. In the conversation about Boyle we usually don’t make mention of his “day job”, a job that could just as easily take him out at night. Rather, we put his artwork front and center. Kevin understands his position and has generously asked us to donate a large portion of his sales through this event to charities servicing those most affected.
Robert Chapman has been at work as an artist for decades… and decades. The assistant to Willem de Kooning in the later years of his life, Chapman developed his own recognizable style of which he has become well known. One of our most ‘senior’ artists, Robert has great perspective and has offered us a bit of wisdom… that art and creating is a “relief from the relentlessness of our times”. So, take a break, breathe, reflect and put a beautiful Robert Chapman up on your wall.
There is something remarkable about this pandemic in that it requires us all to evaluate and organize the things we do. Gretchen Gammell is the longest tenured artist at Hall Spassov Gallery, a mother, a wife and a full time nursing student. Some of us might take these extreme times to consolidate activity and perhaps let a few things fade into the aether, but not Gammell. Recently, in a brief conversation with the artist, she casually shared how she was up until 5AM painting. She will be helping us all through the lasting effects of this crises as an artist, nurse and hard-charging great human being.
“We are all in this together, after all. That was the case before the pandemic and will certainly be the case afterward.” Artist Tracy Grubbs has always been known to us as a steady, thoughtful and socially engaged artist. In her own words she has accurately and succinctly described an absolute truth about this pandemic and inarguably, our world in general. Her artwork has always explored the changing world and our relationship to it so it is natural that she use her art and steady message to “lessen the anxiety”.
I live in one of the most affluent parts of America. But, I grew up in a military family and have lived in Europe and nearly every part of our country. I am acutely aware of just how different life is for most human beings. For them this pandemic and the lasting affects will be difficult at least and deadly at worst. I feel the weight of this on the rare trip out to purchase groceries when I am left with feelings of despair and pessimism that alter my entire day. My work as an artist has always been my salvation. It would seem that whenever my life was a mess I could simply start painting and the ship would right itself. This act forced me to put my energy and attention on something productive thus robbing the negativity I felt of any real sustenance. Doubling down on this notion, and with Amy’s assistance, we developed a plan for our gallery to forfeit its commission enabling us to raise over $50,000 that will go to directly to the gallery artists. It does not solve the larger problem, but it felt good, got my mind right and will certainly empower the next step. And so it goes until the problem is solved.
Like me, Kit King may not know anything was wrong in the world if she didn’t read the news, need to pay her mortgage or eat food. As an artist Kit King is intellectually curious and well informed. As such, she, in the face of this pandemic, has chosen to fortify her ability to self sustain. The very recent addition of a chicken coop on her and husband, Corey “Oda” Popp’s property in Canada is a fine example of what can be done when creativity and purpose meet. Let this be a guide to all of us.
In Barcelona Spain, artist Rein de Lege has been on lockdown since March 16th. In what he describes as a moment of “impulse” he turned his complete attention to renewing and planting his garden. “Now that my garden, all of a sudden, has become so important for me, I’m considering to integrate this new development in my art, even when I still haven’t any idea how and what.” We here at the gallery can’t wait to see!
Chris Leib is like all of us I imagine. He has concerns for the health of friends, family and himself. We all have people we must take care of and those responsibilities don’t vanish when confronted with such an unprecedented reality. As we collectively endure this pandemic we find ourselves on either side of realism, trying to dissect truth and understand what is next. Leib’s work is a constant examination of our affect on the planet. His desire for us is that we may reflect on this time and perhaps “a better future can await the world”.
In reading a brief artist’s statement from Nerey, the opening line landed with an increased gravity in the light of this epidemic. “The premise of my work addresses how existence is questionable without participation.” Now, this certainly pertains to Luis’ work as it exists away from the state of the world we live in today, but it also sounds very much like a call to action. We must fine new ways to interact with and have an affect on our world for us to exist in that world. In this way, artists like Luis Garcia Nerey will help us define our existence.
“My paintings serve as a reminder of the beauty within earth's most simple forms, before becoming humanities' complex world.” We have an Oda piece in our personal collection and we had to have it. To be a hyper-realist one must be able to really see what is in front of them. They must carefully and precisely act on that information and transfer that into actions. He, alongside his wife and fellow artist Kit King, have chosen to confront the pandemic with purpose. A push toward a more self sustaining existence is at the forefront of that action. To that end, Oda has taken a short break from painting to build a chicken coop. If he is anything like us, the act of building will be as therapeutic as getting fresh eggs without going to a grocery store.
When artists Gretchen Gammell and Amy Spassov came together to form Mars and Pony their world, and our collective world, was very different than it is today. Both artists are now mothers and time for collaboration is limited. This has not stopped them from planning in earnest for the next iteration of their work. For now, however, their time is spent collaborating with their children, cultivating the next generation of creative people we will look to for solace and solutions in times of crises.
Artists often use their artwork to make sense of the world around them. In times like this it is vital. Having time to slow down and focus ones attention, albeit government ordered, is a chance for Jérôme Poirier to create and in so doing, be better prepared for and perhaps even shape what will come next. “I try to be positive and focus on spring that is coming soon and the nature around waking up from winter”. And why not, we can not change the past. We can only be hopeful, determined and willing to shape our future.
We have acknowledged that, for some artists, this pandemic represents little change in their working situation. “We do have similar lives in that we can be contained and isolated if need be. This is one of those cases where our career choices actually work to our extreme benefit.” Jeff Peters has always, in our opinion, been a master of words and here he simultaneously points out an advantage of being an artist while illuminating the often hard reality of being an artist. While every artist’s story is different one thing remains the same… it will be creatives like Peters that resolve our current situation, envision our future and make life more tenable today.
Ellwood ‘Woody’ Risk has been living and working in the greater Los Angeles are for decades. Mostly known for his shooting target based street art style, Risk has crossed into fine art with large scale works frequently showing up in movies and television. Woody’s studio sits on the water in San Pedro where the USNS Mercy showed up to assist in treating Coronavirus patients. Looking out at this ship is certainly a reminder of the fragility and displacement of our lives today. While a path forward is still unclear one thing remains certain… we need these artists to continue their work and inspire that path forward.
For the last three years I have been focused on home life. This pandemic has not changed a lot in my day to day life. I still juggle the role of mother, artist, partner and gallery owner from home. For every challenge I realize the privileges I have and I do not take my life for granted. I work to focus on simple pleasures while fostering a safe and happy environment for our child and help where I can. With Erik’s assistance, we developed a plan for our gallery to forfeit its commission enabling us to raise over $50,000 that will go to directly to the artists. I do believe this is an opportunity for collective growth and reflection and my optimism remains intact; rooted deep in my belief that nature will take care of itself. We are lucky to take a breath and even exist on Earth. My wish is that we learn to take better care of it and each other.
SylC, as she goes by, is a French artist of whom life is as most ours is here. It is riddled with loss, anxiety and uncertainty. But, she is an artist. It is in these perplexing and often unwanted aspects of life that artists tend to thrive. In her own words, “I don’t know how art will be tomorrow, just hope the future will be shinier.” We need artists to keep working through this time. Having SylC and her unique vision to both cope and create is inspiring and necessary as we navigate the months ahead.
Ryoko Tajiri is a bay area artist who, like so many of us, has been ordered to shelter in place. It may not be readily apparent, but this artist’s, and every artist’s role in this time is critical. It is their creativity and vision that may allow us to look back on this time and remember it not for the trials and losses but rather the beauty that was brought into the world.
ARTIST RELIEF BENEFIT
The truth is… The truth is that we would all like a bit more truth. Truth allows us to plan and act. That action allows us to heal. One of the best bits of advice I have ever received and one that has proven true time and again is this… “You don’t need to solve the problem to feel better. You just need to take the first step towards solving it”. It starts with a simple action, a move forward. For us at Hall Spassov Gallery that first step was identifying what we could do that would have the greatest impact. How do we most affect peoples lives and how, in this time, can we maximize that affect? The Artist Relief Benefit represented a way that we could get funds directly into the hands of the artists we represent in a time when many have been left out of government assistance programs and lost sources of revenue that supported their and their family’s lives. With the help of our community of collectors we have been able to raise over $50,000 dollars for the artists! Thank you.