Matthew Best

I have three new drawings in the upcoming show, The New Aesthetic at Gallery 19 (http://www.gallery19chicago.com/)  in Chicago opening in May. I will be featured in a second show at the same gallery in June. I'm very excited to be showing at this exciting new gallery. I will be traveling to Chicago for both openings.

The show runs from May 10 to June 7 with an opening reception on May 10, 6:30-10pm. Hope to see you there.

Radiate, 2012. 22 by 30 inches. Ink on paper.

I'm very excited to have a piece in Points North's inaugural show.

Method of Exchange

October 26-November 17, 2012
Opening reception: Friday October 26, 7-9 pm
Curated by Chloe Watson

For more information view Points North's website:
http://pntsnrth.com/method-of-exchange-3/

Points North is located at 161 Croswell Road (Route 41), in Farmington, ME

my contribution:

Swarm, 2012. Ink and pen on paper. 4 by 6 inches.

I began a busy summer by moving studios. Same building, different floor, more space. The extra space is such a luxury and has really helped my work by giving me more space to move and maybe the best part, storage space so I'm not tripping over my own work.

I've done a lot of drawing this summer. This drawing is from a series I've designated the $25 drawings. They are of roughly uniform size, 11 by 15 inches. All are ink on paper. They began as a way of using up older drawings that didn't work. I tore the paper into quarters and used the backside of the paper as a warm-up for the day. What began as a warm-up has turned into a stack of drawings and an exciting way of generating new imagery.

Untitled drawing, 22 by 30 inches. Ink on paper.

A second series of drawings was inspired by the move to the new studio. The previous tenant of the studio left behind a plexiglass box with 50 cents embossed on it. I don't know what he used it for but I immediately thought it had possibilities.

In the process of drawing I generate a lot of scrap paper. I decided that I could do a series of small sketches and sell them for 50 cents to studio visitors. It has become a lot of fun to work on these drawings, the box contains scraps of old drawings, modified pieces of paper that I've used to test colors on, prints I did in 1995 that I drew on top of.

Personally I think the most valuable part of it has been the reevaluation of doodles that I normally would have recycled. There are some exciting things happening there.

It is currently hanging next to the studio door slowly filling up with quarters.

My paintings have changed this summer. I've started working with this linear, quasi-symmetrical imagery inspired by half remembered dreams and exploring the space between drawing and writing/calligraphy. Above are three 18 by 18 inch acrylic on panel paintings that have turned into an unofficial triptych.

My series of drawings, 30 Radiographic Shooting Sketches will be on display this summer at the Studio (http://thestudionh.blogspot.com/) in Laconia, NH. There will be an opening reception on Friday, July 6.

These drawings were executed on paper that I found while exploring the abandoned Packard plant in Detroit, MI. Among the rubble was a small pile of "radiographic shooting sketches." While a few of them are stained and folded, I was immediately excited by the possibilities they presented. Inspired by the Packard plant's combination of architectural rubble and graffiti I started the series of drawings once I got back to my studio.

I used the shooting sketches like the graffiti artists used the building, a "found" surface to react to. The rectangle within each sheet was my space to play with, to ignore, to fight with.

Radiographic Shooting Sketch #5, 8.5 by 11. Ink on found paper.

Installation shot

closer up

Also on view will be fashion dolls created by my life partner and studio mate, Paul Pham (http://dollcis.com/). It will be the first time we have shown our work together outside of our studio.

Bring your quarters, the 50 cents drawing box will also be on display!

 For more inforation contact Las Manos Gallery (http://www.lasmanosgallery.com/).