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Distinction Gallery is dedicated to their goal of exposing the top talents in contemporary arts to the southern California region by hosting a fabulous three artist showing entitled “Mode”. This unique gathering will feature the art of Jenn Porreca, Jeni Yang and Alex Willan. The main gallery will feature numerous pieces by these industrious painter/illustrators who will be on hand for the opening to discuss their work and answer any questions. The showing will start with a reception on Saturday, May 10th, from 6-11 pm. The event will be celebrated with art, wine, and live music. Our 14 studios will be open featuring the work of local artists and our additional show spaces will be displaying the works of 50+ other well-renowned artists from around the world. Please feel free browse our new collection of art books and toys we have for purchase and don’t hesitate to inquire about Distinction’s custom framing services. JENN PORRECA has been referred to as a ‘modern day urban folk artist’. The label is accurate and is derived from Jenn’s inspirations, materials and self-taught approach to creating her art. She has been known to find a canvas for her paint on found wood, discarded windows and old suitcases. As a further artistic statement and attempt at interaction with the city which provides her with some of her materials, Jenn has been known to occasionally redistribute the finished pieces back to their original location. While raised in Europe, the Middle East and finally in America’s rural Pennsylvania farmland, Jenn currently resides in the Richmond district of San Francisco. This provides ample inspiration from the street artists that came before her. While drawing from some unique and ranged points of influences such as silhouette artists from old Germany and England, graffiti and comic books, it’s the color palettes of kitchens from the 20’s, 30’s and 70’s that Jenn utilizes which gives her work that elusive element of ‘folk art’. Her paintings display a certain worn, aged aesthetic that is accomplished through the combination of her purposefully chosen wood canvases and her particular attention to color, light and mood. This approach sets off her Victorian dressed female subjects and places them in historical past settings while adding elements that lend a more contemporary gloss and thus achieving her ‘modern urban folk art’. 2008 finds Jenn Porecca’s work being displayed in Manila, San Diego and New York but plans for the following year include finding a larger installation space for bigger works that can incorporate public interaction. Artist Statement: “Through my work I hope to find a place of truth and equality through an everyday type of folklore and developed mythology. Aesthetically, I work to effortlessly merge old and new with classical art techniques, folk and craftwork along with illustration and modern comic book art. My hope is to become a visual voice that speaks to all walks of life on what it means to be alive in the 21st century. I believe it is my calling to do this work that has chosen me, and to leave behind a body of my life’s work for those that come after I am gone.” JENI YANG was born in Taipei, Taiwan and raised on a staple of fruit tarts and other sweets. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her ‘magical headphones’. Her formal art training was through the University of Fullerton in California where she received her BFA in illustration. Her work has been shown world-wide with more galleries eager to showcase her promising talents. Her work is whimsical with a sly nod to all that was fun about being a child. She often chooses to work upon a wood canvas, letting the natural grains show through which lends a quality of folk art to her paintings. Her choice in colors is often a palette of pale pastels allowing her work to be perceived with a certain aged softness. The twinkle of a day-dreaming youngster scampers through the narrative in most of her art. ALEX WILLAN is a full time painter who works in Pasadena. He graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a degree in illustration. He has furthered his training by studying at the renowned Illustration Academy working under such well known artists as C.F. Payne, Gary Kelly and Anita Kunz. His work utilizes long, languid female forms, slightly gaunt with the narrative of the piece being complimented by an animal interacting with the subject. It could be a hummingbird attracted to the flowers in the hair of a sorrowful girl, or more abstract as fish become entangled in their mistress’s hair. His fondness for pattern and texture are prominent in most of his works, setting off backgrounds and his subject’s choice in clothing material. “Mode” shows May 10th through June 7th Distinction is a 7000 square foot building which houses a gallery and 14 artist studios ranging in size from 150 to 800 square feet. The Gallery features contemporary and cutting edge art work with a soft focus on Urban Surrealism. Distinction exhibits work by emerging and internationally acclaimed artists and is located at: 317 East Grand Avenue, Escondido, CA 92025. A wide variety of art books and toys are now available for purchase. Custom framing is also available. Please contact the gallery at (760) 781-5779 if you would like high res images or to set a possible interview with any of the artists. |
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