Page 31 - October 2020 Adelante Magazine

Photos by: Gil Cortes | gilcupper@gmail.comARTArtist Brian Atchley fell into painting when he discovered an abandoned canvas in a Chicago dumpster. He is an autodidact by choice, because he loves the process of learning through doing, rather than through prescriptive art classes. Currently, his work is focused on monochromatic studies of the human form as seen in his new solo exhibition “Being Matter by Brian Atchley,” currently on view in Los Angeles at Matter Studio Gallery. His use of black and white is used to punctuate the harmonious juxta- position between the strength and vulnerability, the hardness and the softness of the human body, and the profound effect light and shadow have in accentuating its elegant form.“As I paint my intention is not to put bodies onto a canvas, but to let them emerge from it. Starting from total darkness, I slowly bring them to light - enough so that you can begin to see their shapes and contours but allowing them to still remain partially hidden. It is what we do not see that keeps us searching for more.” states the artist.Atchley received a Bachelor of Arts & Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. He currently lives and works in Los Angeles, where he connected with Matter Studio Gallery founder, Karla Funderburk.Upon meeting with Atchley and viewing his work, Funderburk offered him a solo exhibition in her Mid City, Los Angeles gallery. The long awaited exhibition, that was initially postponed due to the Coronavirus stay-at-home order, opened on September 6th, 2020 and is currently on view in the gallery by appointment only until October 11th, 2020.Funderburk and her gallery gained recognition this Summer with the collaborative exhibitionhonoring those we have lost in recent months, PAINTINGS BY BRIAN ATCHLEY “Honoring Matter: A Memorial for the Victims ofCOVID-19.” This timely, moving, and powerfullysymbolic collaborative exhibition, is an instal-BEING MATTERKarla Funderburk, an artist and designer herself, has realized her longstanding vision for an exhibition space in the heart of LA, where local artists can share their diverse artwork and their diverse vision and voices. Matter Studio Gallery is as much of an art gallery as a vital, community hub that celebrates inclusiveness through artistic expression, Matter Studio Gallery fills an essential need in our ever-evolving city.The hope is to flow in harmony with that vision through the exhibition, “Being Matter by Brian Athcley.”Join us for this stunning, must-see show!To schedule a viewing appointment please visit MATTERSTUDIOGALLERY.COMMasks and social distancing guidelines are required at all times in the gallery.48” X 60” acrylic on canvaslation of origami cranes - each crane being representative of a soul that has passed. Word spread about Funderburkʼs Memorial Crane Project and the story was picked up by top news agencies such as the Associated Press, The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, Spectrum News1 and news sources all over the world in countries such as Japan, Canada, England, India and Senegal. Due to this coverage, on a daily basis the gallery receives multiple packages of cranes from all over the world to add to the memorial. Currently, the project is being moved to a larger venue in the Los Angeles area in order to honor more of the souls lost, and accommodate more visitors to the installation.TO ADVERTISE IN ADELANTE MAGAZINE CALL 323-256-6639 | WWW.ADELANTEMAGAZINE.COMBatchley Artwww.batchley.com @batchleyart31