Work by Alex Gardener (left) and Paul Alvarez III on display at 4th St. Vine. Photos by Mariya Suzuki.
“I like to think of drawing as something very raw—something straight onto paper,” artist Mariya Suzuki says of her curatorial debut currently on view at 4th Street Vine. “I like the feeling of the paper’s surface on the tip of a pencil or pen, so I wanted the title of the exhibition, ‘Barefeet,’ to convey that we are very free when we draw.”
Providing a rich ambiance to a collection of drawings by some of Long Beach’s finest local talent, the hip boutique wine and beer bar owned by Sophia Sandoval and Jim Ritson approached Suzuki to curate the show after she exhibited work there in early 2012. As a curator, she chose a variety of style-driven artists to add to the unique environment.
Artist Alex Gardner made a series of black ink drawings, described by the artist as “a whimsically pessimistic exploration of existence.” Gardner’s work generally explores dark themes with a dash of humor, something evident in his latest drawings.
Finding inspiration in narrative and storytelling, Winnie Fu contributes a series of three drawings inspired by prestidigitation (the art of magic/slight-of-hand). Standout piece “Magician” features a conjuror’s body parts floating in an array of colorful shapes and twirls. Much like the playfulness of sawing a woman in half, the piece makes a grotesque act seem whimsical and playful as the body parts lead downward to a lone hand holding a magical twig.
Paul Alvarez III’s saturated portraits of women are typical of the artist’s repertoire, dealing with elements of the sea and working within an aqua-blue color palette. Alvarez’s work—particularly a drawing titled “Ominous Diver”—is heavily reliant on mark-making and resembles something between the drawings of Hajime Sorayama as influenced by Jacques Cousteau.
The opening this weekend featured a full house, lots of smiling faces and all the artists in attendance. Drop by and see a full selection of work from artists Alex Gardner, Alex Petty, Catherine Ho, Julius Tanag, Mariya Suzuki, Paul Alvarez III, Tricia Mendoza and Winnie Fu.
4th St. Vine is located at 2142 E. 4th St. “Barefoot” runs through October 18.
—Second photo: Winnie Fu’s “Magician”