1431 Central Ave, St Pete
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Leslie Curran Gallery is proud to announce the opening of TEKTONIC, an exhibition featuring the paintings of Robert Ross and the sculptures of Nin McQuillen. Ross’s paintings reveal the alluring geometry of alleyways, construction sites, rooftops and other overlooked places. McQuillen’s intimately-scaled sculptures in aluminum, steel, bronze and brass are a synthesis of line, shape and surface that evoke the harmony of standing stones and totems. The upcoming exhibition opens September 2nd, 2017 and remains on view through October 7th, 2017. There will be a reception with the artists on September 9th, 6-9pm in conjunction with St Petersburg’s Second Saturday ArtWalk.
Nin McQuillen begins with dense, solid aluminum block and rod, found and salvaged, marked by years of weathering. Close examination reveals more than monochrome metal assemblages. The hand-sanded and polished surfaces display a variety of luminous tones, from gentle planar gradations to highly reflective accents.
Shown together, these works share a passion for creating dynamic compositions from complex geometric relationships. “The installation juxtaposes the loose, expressionist style of Ross’s two-dimensional works and the finely-honed solidity of McQuillen’s three-dimensional sculptures, while also emphasizing the minimalist aesthetic and complimentary formalist strategies they both utilize to create energy and tension in space,” explains gallery curator Robin Perry Dana.
ARTIST INFO
Nin McQuillen grew up in St Petersburg, maintains an active studio in St Petersburg, and has been represented by Leslie Curran for over a decade. He earned a BS in Broadcasting from the University of Florida. He spent 1972 studying theatre and art history in London, followed by extensive travel to art museums throughout Europe. Varied careers in broadcasting, advertising, teaching and mental health all served as investigations in human behavior, which continue to inform his 40 years of exploration in art-making.