The April “small ART” salon-style group art show was a nice turn out. We thank the visitors and the artists for attending the artists’ reception.

(Below are some pictures from the art show.)

The Paolo Mejia Art Gallery and Design Studio, with the collaboration of ModTimber, is proud to announce our April “small ART” salon-style group art show. We invite you to come and attend the show.  There will be 20+ artists and almost a hundred artwork pieces that will be displayed at two collaborating facility. Meet and greet our featured monthly artists, and purchase affordable art that you can add into your collection or use to redesign your home, office or business. Come join us this April, meet the artists, see original arts, and purchase arts. The art show will be up from April 3 – April 27 of this month.

Located:

Paolo Mejia Art Gallery and Design Studio
4343 3rd. St., Suite #A + B
San Francisco, Ca. 94124

408.341.9104
paolomejia@hotmail.com
Facebook (be a fan at our FB page)
www.paolomejia.com

Open on Sundays 12 – 5pm
Mondays and Tuesdays by
appointment

Double Image
Acrylic on canvas
18″ x 24″
2013

The Paolo Mejia Art Gallery and Design Studio is proud to announce our “Abstract Making Class/workshop” featured artist, Mary Collins. Her show entitled “Blue Series” is the culmination of what she learned in class. The artwork depicts the Principles and Elements of Art and Design using textures and grounds, color mixtures and schemes, and brush and paint strokes.

Mel Vera Cruz’s artwork references a neo-pop and neo-expressionist style that evokes social commentary on today’s experiences in society. The art show is entitled “Quintessential Adobo“. The art show is about the suggestive labeling and pigeon-holing of groups and people. In this art show, Mel Vera Cruz exhibits his art and what he experienced as an immigrant.

Mel Vera Cruz was born in 1964 Manila, Philippines. He had two major migrations. His first migration was from the province of Quezon to the city of Manila, and his second migration was from Manila to the San Francisco Bay Area. These two major migrations had a profound effect on him.

As an effect of his emigration, he experienced discrimination and psychological displacement. Discrimination and psychological displacement were generally common experiences for emigrants. Mel had an ideal experience as a child because he spent it in the country where nature was his playground, but at the same time was a victim of discrimination early in life because of his provincial/rural background. However, his experiences fueled his desire to create. Mel’s attempt to exorcise his demons affected his art making process. This attempt of exorcism had a positive reaction from a negative situation. For Mel, this was the only way to take the baggage out of his system.

Just as he was beginning to adjust to the cosmopolitan life of Manila, he migrated to the Bay Area in California where he was labeled ‘fresh off the boat’ or FOB. This was another experience that displaced him further mentally and psychologically. However, Mel had one advantage on his side and that was using the esoteric power of art as a tool to confront his disadvantages. Not all his experiences were bad, and this reflects on his art making process and artworks. In Mel’s works, you can feel the spontaneity and joy in his creations. It is like a release of synergy that came from his overall vibe and experience.

Mel’s artworks illuminate in a chaotic but fun way. He has been interested in utilizing available materials or found objects because he likes to be self-sufficient, not only physically and mentally, but also spiritually. His surroundings definitely impacts his process and art making. Like a chemist, he can transform materials from his surroundings and then make them into pieces of art, because he believes it is integrated with his life and not separate or detached. Mel Vera Cruz overall believes in the freedom and independence in art making.

“You cannot reach your full creative potential when you’re subjected to protocols.“

 – Mel Vera Cruz

(Below are some of his works displayed in the gallery. They are mixed media pieces on mylar.)

‘Destiny’
Mixed media on mylar
36×80 inches (approximate)
2010

‘Do You Have A Filipina?’
Mixed media on mylar
36×80 inches (approximate)
2010