Some exhibitions are inspired by esoteric themes that require a lengthy debriefing to truly appreciate. But not 18 x 14. A group show featuring the first- and second-floor artists of Wedge Studios, 18 x 14 was inspired by a simple concept: square footage. “If you have ever been to Spotlight Gallery, you know that it’s pretty small,” says gallery representative Patricia Hargrove. To accommodate all 18 artists in the space — formerly an elevator room — the team agreed to limit works to 14 inches wide by 14 inches tall. Other than the size constraint, “artists have free rein,” says Hargrove, who will be presenting a cheery alcohol ink titled “Happy Place.” Other participating creatives include Julie Armbruster, an Asheville-based illustrator whose drawings, paintings, and prints feature outlandish animal-human hybrids. A snake-eyed mushroom farmer may be riding his cherry-red beach cruiser, for instance. Or, a three-eyed pig bear named Marzipan may be convening with a trinity of pigeons. Needless to say, stuff can get pretty weird in Armbruster’s whimsical world. Fortunately, she can fit all the wackiness onto a small canvas. “I have no trouble with scale,” she tells Asheville Made. “From full-room murals to tiny hand-painted crystals, I love it all.”
November 1-30; Opening Reception: Friday, Nov. 10, 5-7pm
Spotlight Gallery at Wedge Studios / 129 Roberts St., River Arts District, Asheville