New Shows at Blue Spiral 1, Opening July 5

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then pastiche is a close second. A classic art-school assignment, pastiche requires that creatives blend the style of a particular artist or period with that of their own. Gallery-goers can glimpse examples of what results during The Nod: Pastiche Art, an early-summer group show happening in the Main Level Gallery at Blue Spiral 1. According to a press release, “Visitors will see a nod to David Hockney’s double portrait series, fiber inspired by Mondrian and Kandinsky, soft sculptures rendered in the style of Claes Oldenburg, and clay vessels that reference 17th-century Colonial American ceramic history.” In the Lower Level Gallery, a group of makers will “demonstrate a high caliber of artistic deception” as part of Hyperrealism. Blue Spiral 1 will also host Andrew Hayes in the Small Format Gallery for a solo show of book-inspired sculptures. Meanwhile, plein air painter Luke Allsbrook and basketmaker Carol Hetzel will present Vista and Vessel in the Showcase Gallery. Lastly, in the Upper Level Gallery, a selection of drawings and paintings from the Will Henry Stevens estate will be exhibited in chronological order, spanning 1924 to 1949. The exhibition will also feature sculptures by Matt Byrd, a stone carver with a background in traditional stonemasonry.