In Infinite Tapestry, Martinez continues in the vein of his form based abstraction works for which he is most widely known. Utilizing a wide and provocative color palette while drawing on artistic influences as diverse as surrealism, urban art and abstract expressionism, the works presented offer viewers a direct portal through which to experience the vast extraterrestrial vistas, densely colored amorphous landscapes and gently bubbling geometries of the imaginative space channeled by Mars‐1.

The new body of work being developed for this exhibition further pushes the boundaries of the ever expanding and constantly in flux style Mars‐1 has become known for. The dedication and tradition within his work to a consistent transmutation from one distinct aesthetic expression to another is once again evident in the Infinite Tapestry series, a more minimalist approach to the Mars‐1 method. Soft monochromatic spherical forms arise out of a seeming abyss of void, gathering together in a harmonious grouping of expanding and contracting cosmological geometries – form slowly arising out of the formless. This approach, in the variety of ways it has manifested in the brushstrokes of this artist ‐ one whose work transcends genres, has been greatly responsible for the sense of immersion his work offers the viewer. What ensues is a direct sense of an authentic journey through his mind and imagination, one who the artist himself claims to come from the very other‐wordly spaces which define much of his artistic output.

Mars‐1 (Mario Martinez) was born in Boulder, Colorado in 1977. He moved to Fresno, California when he was 3. At 13 he began his interest in all things street art as he began writing graffiti and contributing to street art and culture in a significant way. He later attended and graduated with a BFA from the San Francisco Academy of Art. Following his graduation he devoted himself to the creation of his artworks, becoming prolific in the then emerging world of lowbrow art and synthesizing his vision through both the urban and fine art worlds. He has exhibited in countless gallery exhibitions throughout the globe including group exhibitions stretching from San Francisco to Sau Paulo, and Portland to Boston. His solo shows have included major exhibitions in Portugal (VPF Cream Art Gallery, 2008) and New York City (Jonathan Levine Gallery, 2007, 2009). His work can be found in the private collections of Lance Armstrong, Mark Parker (CEO of Nike), DJ Qbert and Grammy award winning musician Everlast. His first published book, Convergence, included works by himself and other artists working in a similar style. It is virtually sold out of its first printing. The follow up to Convergence, Further, has just been recently released to wide acclaim and the first hardcover monograph of his artwork will be released through Ginko Press during the summer of 2010.

Infinite Tapestry will be on view from April 2 to April 25, 2010. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 12‐6 and Sunday from 12‐5. The opening reception will be on Friday April 2 from 7‐ 10pm. Artist in attendance.

Meta Gallery
124 Ossington ave.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
m6j -2z5

telephone 416.955.0500
fax 416.955.0807

email info@metagallery.com

Its been an incredible experience hosting these amazing artworks.
Please join us this weekend as we give them a warm sendoff onto
their next journey.

Gallery hours are Tuesday – Saturday 11 – 6 pm and Sunday 12-5 pm.

Please look out for the evite to our next exhibition which
opens Friday October 23rd from 7-10pm.

FEAR HOPE AND LOVE – Works by celebrated visionary artist Mark Henson

Hope to see you all there!

until then,

Besos…

- Meta Gallery

http://metagallery.com

416.955.0500

37 Mill Street, unit 107
Distillery District
Toronto, Ontario
M5A 3R6
Canada

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Toronto, Ontario, June 4, 2009 – Meta Gallery is pleased to present Anatomy of Being, new and old works by Alex Grey. The artist’s first solo exhibition with Meta Gallery marks his first showing in Canada in over 20 years and embodies a broad spectrum of the inner and outer worlds Grey depicts through work produced between 1999-2009. With a career going back over 3 decades, Alex Grey’s paintings represent a bold and courageous statement in contemporary art today, one where despite the collective struggle of humanity and the tremendous amounts of suffering occurring on a daily basis, good does in fact exist. And what Grey’s artwork offers is evidence – a tangible thing we can see and touch that in its silence is a potent reminder to be good, and to love.

In Anatomy of Being, Grey’s vision, what one New York Times critic referred to as “ … of a flawed but perfectable mankind” is dynamic in its expression, both in medium and subject. In Reading, a man and his daughter sit together, reading Blake’s famous poem Tiger, Tiger. As he speaks the words of the first line, their eyes meet on one point of the page. A golden flaming figure eight connects their hearts, a reminder of the infinite love a parent shares with their child. Young and Old similarly depicts the connection shared between an infant and parent in what may be a very ordinary, yet very sacred moment. These depictions of what appear to be somewhat commonplace interactions within the collective experience gently push us towards contemplating, “is it possible that perhaps every moment could share this sacred quality?” Executing these works in the aesthetic style he is perhaps best known for – translucent skin revealing the precise anatomical detailing of the human biology, from inner organs to muscle structure and the lymphatic system to the bodies subtle energetic fields – Grey’s depictions of various physical and metaphysical aspects of the human form are powerful messages to consider our similarities rather than our differences, and to see ourselves reflected in others.

Grey offers other insights into more formless realms of existence with his “Being” series. Four paintings completed over a three-year period, (‘05-‘07) each 2’ x 2’ panel depicts the toroidal flow of energy coursing through a somewhat mysterious yet familiar anthropomorphic expression of divinity as it mediates the life/death/rebirth cycle. The surface and contours of each “Being” differ in their attunement to aspects of particular wisdom traditions. In VajraBeing, the surface of the gently flowing forms comprise concentric rectangles. Within the centre of each lies a Vajra, a symbol in Tibetan Buddhism that represents the power of wisdom to penetrate evil and destroy ignorance. As aesthetically diverse as these works are, a simple message of hope, truth and beauty emerge as themes throughout these powerful symbols of unity and love.

Alex Grey was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1953. He attended the Columbus College of Art and Design for two years (1971-73) and after dropping out to paint billboards for a year, enrolled at the Boston Museum School for one year to study with the conceptual artist Jay Jaroslav. It was here he met his wife and collaborator of over 25 years, Allyson Grey. Their journey together as artists has resulted in Grey’s Sacred Mirror series. 21 paintings in total that take the viewer on a journey through the physical, metaphysical and finally transcendent realms of existence. By depicting each state, the viewer is invited to see themselves as reflections of each other, and the divine. Inspiring a sense of profound connection and wonder, the series is the crux of the vision of The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, or CosM. A registered non profit 5013(c) organization, the Greys are dedicated to building permanent architecture inspired by the great sacred structures on earth and which would house the Sacred Mirrors as well as many of Alex’s most important works. The series was exhibited in their Chelsea, NY gallery from 2004-2009. They have recently moved to a 40 acre piece of land which will be the future home of CosM. In addition to his work to make his most inspired art available to the public, Grey has contributed artwork for the rock band TOOL, reaching millions with his work. His artwork over the past 30 years has been shown in many exhibitions worldwide, among them P.S.1 Contemporary Art Centre, Long Island, NY (1982), Stux Gallery, NY, NY (1985) a mid-career retrospective at the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art (1999), and Feature Inc, NY, NY (2001).

Anatomy of Being will be on view from June 26 to September 4, 2009. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 11-6 and Sunday from 12-5. The opening reception will be on Friday June 26 from 7-10pm. Artist in attendence. Alex will also be giving a talk on his art and life on Saturday June 27, 2009. For more info please contact mk@metagallery.com.

For additional information or to be put on the preview list for this exhibition please contact Jody Polishchuk at 416.955.0500 or jp@metagallery.com