Exhibit: Bright Colours & Apocalyptic Darkness at The Power Plant!

The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery's Julia Dault & Pedro Cabrita Reis Exhibition Review

I recently visited The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery at The Harbourfront Centre in Toronto to check out the two latest exhibitions - Julia Dault: Colour Me Bad and Pedro Cabrita Reis: fourteen paintings, the preacher, and a broken line. I was so surprised and had so much fun on my first visit to The Power Plant to check out Sanatorium, that I wasn't quite sure what to expect from these latest exhibitions.

Colour Me Badd takes its name from the 1990's music group Colour Me Badd, who were known for wearing bright coloured hues, and the influence can be seen throughout the exhibit. A mix of paintings and sculptures, some recent and or a remix of past work, make up this small exhibit.

Escapade, 2013

L-R: Heatwave, 2014; Lady Danger, 2014; Innerspace, 2014; Atlantis, 2014; Indecent Proposal, 2013-14; The Freshmaker, 2013; Greased Lightning, 2013; Sno-Castle, 2013

Julia Dault is a New York-based artist who has a set of self-imposed rules for her art. She never mixes paint for any of her paintings, instead using it straight from the tube. She often paints several layers, sometimes in colourful and wild patterns, and then covers the painting in a solid top layer. While the top coat is drying, she uses items like squeegees, combs, or other objects, to scrape it away, to reveal the bottom layers.

Untiltled 36, 1:00pm-4:15pm, September 15, 2014

The Wilds, 2014

Dault's two sculptures were created on site, and are dated and time stamped with how long it took to make. She wanted people to get a glimpse into the process of creating art. If I looked close enough I can see scratches and bends on the piece and can see the effort that went into Untitled 36 in the 3 hours and 15 minutes it took to create it. 

a broken line, 2014 and the preacher, 2013

a broken line, 2014 and the preacher, 2013

Meanwhile, across the hall the Pedro Cabrita Reis exhibition stands (or leans) in stark contrast of Daults'. Fourteen paintings, the preacher, and a broken line consists of three projects. The largest and most interesting is a broken line, a large installation made up from wooden beams, aluminum girders, fluorescent lighting and wires. It looks like the aftermath of an earthquake or the beginning of a construction project, long forgotten. What struck me as I was wandering around the room, stepping over beams, was that the lights weren't on. According to one of the volunteers, an inspector from the Electrical Safety Authority had visited and cited a list of code violations, including exposed wires. So the cords were cut, literally. All the cords were cut and left to dangle where they be. I didn't get the chance to see the piece lit up, but even in the dark, a broken line is amazing.

the preacher, 2013

The Toronto Suite I-XIV, 2014

One of The Toronto Suite I-XIV, 2014

In the back corner, the preacher consists of seven photographs, each a different angle of an ordinary step ladder, assigning it the authority of the pulpit. On the second level, a new series of paintings, created for this exhibition are displayed. While the preacher and fourteen paintings are interesting, the show stopper was definitely a broken line. The project was supposed to redefine the gallery space, and in my mind it did just that. It created so many questions and stories in my mind as to what was happening or going to happen.

a broken line, 2014

P.s!: Visiting The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery is a great way to spend an afternoon or warm up after skating on the Natrel Rink right beside it at The Harbourfront Centre. Both exhibits are running until January 25, 2015 and are free to the public!

P.s,

Melanie!