Eric Kasper’s First Solo Exhibition Opening At Monorchid In February

Jan. 26, 2013 - PRLog -- Local Phoenix artist Eric Kasper’s first solo exhibition The Epoch opens February 1, 2013 at the monOrchid in Phoenix.  Kasper has shown some of his paintings at galleries and alternative spaces in the Phoenix area for a few years, but until recently he did not feel that he was ready for a solo exhibition.  Monorchid’s curator, Justin Germain, recalls his first meeting with the artist as an exciting experience.  “I didn’t know what to expect, his website had very small images so I wasn’t sure exactly what I was walking in to, but when I saw the paintings for the first time, I was amazed.  The maturity in his paintings is extraordinary for an artist almost purely self-taught, and from a theoretical perspective the thematic depth of the work taps into what quality art should do, relate to every viewer.”  As far as the curator was concerned there was no way the monOrchid couldn’t be the first gallery to show Kasper’s entire body of work.  Germain comments, “Eric is a special artist because his paintings are memorable, the images stay with you.  His work touches the viewer in an uneasy, sometimes shocking way that as humans we have to explore further.  Some of it is very challenging and maybe difficult for some viewers, but his work is important because it leaves its mark on us.”

Eric began painting to pass the time and escape the mediocrity that surrounded him during his formative years.  Without any formal education in the arts he began mimicking the artists he respected but added his own contemporary twists to traditional design techniques.  As Eric continued painting, his own style evolved into an aesthetic sensibility that many artists rarely begin to fathom.  What started as mere experimentation to combat boredom matured and became an exploration of human development.  
The transformation allowed him to focus his thematic approach and explore the underlying facets of the events that mold our development.  Much of Eric’s work stems from personal memories of early life, but they are not depictions of specific events.  Instead the images serve as metaphors for the shared human experiences from our developmental years—discovery, awkwardness, isolation, obliviousness.  Some of the paintings are surreal, calling to a dreamlike moment that we cannot quite grasp.  Others are incredibly realistic minus some assumed details much like a faded memory.  The images are simultaneously calm and unnerving; they evoke a sense of impending events that are not in our control.  Eric’s imagery and his use of color and brushstroke create a tension that alludes to uncertainty.  The paintings represent the frightening, anxiety ridden experience of becoming self-aware as we shed the innocence of our youth and the reality of life becomes clear(er).  

Eric’s subject matter and stylistic development are intertwined.  This exhibition is a reflection of his growth as an artist and the uneasy path to maturity that we encounter as humans.  The Epoch is the journey that led the artist to his current place and time.  By exploring the experiences of our youth Eric created not only an escape for himself but also a document of our own personal histories.

Located at 214 E Roosevelt St, in the heart of the arts district in downtown Phoenix, the monOrchid building offers space for events, weddings, photo/video production, art exhibits, and small businesses. The monOrchid is a 14,000 square foot space comprised of two art galleries, office pods, a coffee shop, and two world-class photo cycloramas. The varied connected spaces house multiple creative businesses and offer unique settings for cultural events within the masonry walls and soaring natural wood bow trusses. Originally a warehouse constructed in 1937 by Del Webb, the building is an excellent example of adaptive-reuse in the city’s core. Through years of renovation and invention, the building has morphed into a place for collaboration, creativity and celebration.  

The monOrchid building is open daily.  The galleries are open for public events every First and Third Friday from 6-9pm and by appointment with the curator.  For more information about art exhibitions, event rental, or office space please visit http://www.monorchid.com, “like” us on facebook, or contact the curator at art@monorchid.com .