In the month of August, DAAS Co-Op Art Gallery & Gifts features the work of member artists who were challenged to create a piece following a very interesting prospectus.
The theme of the exhibition is the color red, as in red-hot sensuality or passion, but open to each artist’s interpretation. The opening reception is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 2 from 6 to 10 p.m. in conjunction with the monthly Fort Myers Art Walk. The exhibition will be on display until Aug. 31.
Martha Dodd is one of the gallery’s primary artists. Her approach to painting is realistic with a taste of fantasy. For the Red exhibition, she used her talents to produce a stunning portrait entitled Natasha. “This is a painting of a longtime friend of mine. It personifies her as someone who is deeply passionate about life, and makes the most of every moment. She is a world traveler, an artist, a business woman and rides horses. At the same time she can reveal a vulnerability in this image, says Dodd, who has been a member of DAAS Co-Op for the past two years. “I wanted to emphasize the intensity of the reds against the other cooler colors, in order to make the painting really sizzle,” concludes the artist.
Sydney Roper is one of the gallery’s three-dimensional artists. Her medium of preference is clay, but she is also an avid painter. Her primary piece for the Red exhibition is entitled “To Have and to Hold.” This piece is a strong statement at can be interpreted in many ways. Roper, who resides in Labelle, enjoys making functional pieces as well as sculptural works that can be interpreted in more than one way, depending on the viewer’s perspective.
With the piece “Two Minutes After,” founding member and gallery president David Acevedo, proposes a more sensual and risky approach to the exhibition’s theme. The title may suggest a situation after a sexual encounter, or perhaps a completely different moment for the nude male portrayed in the painting. Regardless, the artist is known to include suggestions and symbols in his work in order to provoke thought and conversation amongst the viewers.
Everyone is welcome to attend the opening reception during August’s Art Walk. DAAS Co-Op is located at 1815 Fowler St., Unit 3, in Fort Myers. Hours are Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the first Sunday of every month. More information can be found at www.daascoop.com or by calling 239-590-8645.
