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In downtown San Diego, TPG3 is currently exhibiting Inside Out, a group art show comprised of some very talented individuals. Sixty-one pieces of original artwork adorn the walls of the main corridor to the multi-purpose workspace. The first painting I encountered is the one that drew me back in the end, Doubling by Mikaela McLeish. The sheer size of the piece alone demands attention but it’s the stunning use of color and brushstrokes that keeps you looking. The cerulean blue evokes the relaxing feelings of bathing in the sea, a swimming pool, or even a luxurious bath. On the right side of the painting a woman is underwater, both eyes closed, with one hand gently raised by her face as if to sweep aside the floating hair from her face. Her reflection is painted beautifully and it is with great skill that McLeish has captured the way water distorts the shapes beneath it. This expressionistic approach to painting can be seen in all four of McLeish’s paintings on display. And while all are compelling, the hauntingly beautiful Doubling is the one that resonated with me most.
Continuing down the hall, the eight pieces of work by Terri Woodward are not to be missed. The likeness to Margaret Keane’s Big Eyes artwork is the first thought that comes to mind and is what initially attracted me to Woodward’s pieces. Similar to Keane’s doe-eyed subjects, the ones painted by Woodward are distinguished by an almost Victorian ambiance. The ornate frames encasing each piece further evoke the almost Gothic feel of the paintings. My favorite by Woodward is Salem. An oil painting that depicts a young blonde girl with braided pigtails, looped and pulled behind her head. She stands somberly, clothed in the Puritan garb of the late 17th century in Salem, Massachusetts. The girl’s dark, large eyes stare right back at you and I got the feeling she knew something I didn’t. I loved it. If you’re a fan of Keane or Tim Burton’s animated characters, Woodward’s art will surely appeal to you as well. The TPG3’s exhibition of Inside Out is on display at 330 A Street, San Diego, CA 92101 until the 18th of June, 2015. Annie Hruska Intern |
