Alex DeSpain, Stairrow

January 8 - 29, 2016

One Grand Gallery is pleased to present the first in a series of in-house residencies with our inaugural artist Alex DeSpain. 

In addition to the carefully rendered ink­ on ­paper works produced over the course of the residency––one thousand pieces in all––the artist will create a site-specific, large-scale mural as a backdrop to his activities. DeSpain looks forward to seeing people place themselves within the installation for a photo opportunity. These picture postcards are to be the souvenir of their participation in his exhibition.

Working in a limited palette, the artist brings attention to form. In many ways, the artist acts as medium to his own subconscious. After a burst of output exhibiting a series of imagery, the artist has to take a step back to analyze the work and assign it meaning.

One recurring image is the staircase. DeSpain interprets a two-way significance: one going up, one coming down. The staircase is symbolic of progress, personal growth, leading oneself to something––and conversely, destruction and literal downfall. Other symbols include the caterpillar––transformation, fictional plant species––growth, profile portraits––the defining dimensionality of a continuous line, among others.

Simultaneously introspective and capable of an objective perspective, the artist welcomes the prospect of inviting patrons to engage in his creative experiment. By inviting an audience into his intimate studio experience, DeSpain relishes in the idea of the wholly unbiased interpretations passerby will contribute.

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