Iana Quesnell at The Artist Odyssey

By Patricia Frischer

Iana Quesnell: A Retrospective
Saturday, July 9th, 6pm-10pm
The Artist Odyssey
1509 Encinitas Blvd.
Encinitas, CA 92024

"Iana Quesnell showed an extensive selection of her pencil and graphite drawings, including some of her signature large-scale maps of civilization, history, and neuroscience; her maps detailing her experiences living in Encinitas, La Jolla, and Tijuana; and her recent miniature landscape series."

The space for this show was completely redesigned by Quesnell and The Artist Odyssey Team. Her work needs very large space and so temporary walls were installed and everything was displayed to optimum effect. Some works were as large as 25 feet long. This was such an impressive installation and Quesnell explained that it was only here, at MOCA and the Cecut (both museums) that she has ever been able to show the work exactly as she wanted it to appear.

Quesnell was an emerging artist in 2006 when she was chosen by Jean Lowe for the SD Art Prize. We are used to seeing very controlled almost architect like drawing that have massive control and intricate details. All the images are real items in Quesnell's life. We see her home, clothes, china, spaces she lives in and around. 

One 18 1/2 foot work is covered with glowing shiny graphite and Quesnell seemed to delight in rubbing it and showing her smudge hands. She told a story about how some younger children helps apply the same graphite to the actual wall at the Cecut and how much fun she had with this help and the intervention of the audience in this and other works. People are reticent to step on these lovely and fragile paper creations,   but she think that they activate the work. I think maybe after working for 10 years, she is not so precious about their pristine condition.

 it was nice to see some looser works that Quesnell admits are more stream of conscious and need little explanation as they just flow out of her. Together with the controlled images, you feel as if you are getting a more full picture of this complex women who is destined for great things. 

 

A more traditional view instead of the overhead designs that are typical of Quesnell's drawing

The artist mounted

This exquisite drawing with mind blowing details of a lace tableclothes and china from the artist's grandmother.

This is only a small portion of the 25 foot long drawing on paper that was actually used for a dinner. You can see some stains on the paper even though people were reluctant to eat on top of this masterpiece.

The body works its way into this work, where previously it was only incorporated in studies for the animations. I found this whole series quite sexual and cheeky.

Eyes full

A whole wall of captured moments.