Wednesday, December 22, 2021

2021 Cannon Gallery Invitational

By Patricia Frischer


Melissa Walter

One thing you can take to the bank is display of work at the Cannon Art Gallery is always tip top and this show is no exception. Karen McGuire, the curator, has chosen the five artists from those juried into the 2021 Biennial for this 9th invitational exhibition.  The dramatic view when you first enter the show is to the back wall and the stunning wall sculpture by Melissa Walter (SD Art Prize 2020, La Mesa).   Stark but warmly lit, the works draws your eye immediately, but you walk through the graphite black and white drawings by Samantha Barrymore (Carlsbad) to get a closer look.  Barrymore’s art is hyper-photographic and by using the regular texture of the canvas sub-strait, the works almost look pixelated.







Melissa Walter (details)

Melissa Walter

 Samantha Barrymore  (pencil on canvas)

Brad Maxey’s (San Diego) intimate views of building interiors are also hyper, this time realism. They are beautifully rendered in full color

Brad Maxey

Brad Maxey


Jiela Rufeh (Encinitas) was the surprise of the show. Her encaustic and mixed media works seem to invoke a science fiction world where animals heads with extended horns have shrouded human bodies.

Jiela Rufeh

Jiela Rufeh

Jiela Rufeh

The sculptures by Griselda Rosas (SD Art Prize 2020Chula Vista) continue to intrigue me. These multiple media pieces use materials in such unusual combinations and they appear to have some function but that is left to your imagination.   Her wall hanging with embroidery continue to develop in theme, shape and color.

These are the ones to watch!


Griselda Rosas (detail)

Griselda Rosas

Griselda Rosas

To experience the process for making art that Griselda Rosas uses, there are some art kits that are being given away for free. I followed all the instructions and here my own multimedia art work influenced by Griselda and made with all the materials in the kits. 

Patricia Frischer

The Cannon Art Gallery  Invitational exhibition
On view from Nov 13 to Feb 5, 2022.
Carlsbad City Library complex at Dove Lane and El Camino Real in the south of Carlsbad
Tuesday through Thursday: Noon - 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday: Noon - 5 p.m.
Admission is free. Masks are required.




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