So what IS his work anyway? How could one describe or categorize it? Is it Folk art? Outsider art? Primitivism? Dada or neo-Dada? Organic pop art? Abstract expressionism? Maximalism? Perhaps all of the above, maybe none of the above, but probably a little bit of them all. The fascinating thing about Gar’s aesthetic is that it constitutes an amalgamation of so many ideas, styles, and movements; an existential gumbo, if you will.
Thus, it is with exuberance and pride that Gar Bailey and the Tongue and Groove Gallery/Caffe da Vinci’s bring you this upcoming exhibition and sale of some 60 - 100 works by this up-and-coming talent. You’ll just have to come decide for yourself what all the hoopla, art, and music is actually about on June 7th, 2008. Perhaps you may even buy a piece of original art for your home, work place, or venue. Now there’s an original idea!
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Artist Info >
Name: Matthew “Gar” Bailey
DOB: November 16th, 1975
POB: Orlando, Florida
Location: Osteen, Florida
Chronology:
- 1997 - 2001: A few group shows in Orlando, FL at Dante’s (formerly), Sapphire Supper Club (currently The Social), & Yab Yum (now extinct)
- July 2000: One month residency at the world-renown Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, Vermont. Met, cohabited, and learned from about 80 artists from all around the globe. Studio visit and existential council from the esteemed painter and teacher, Archie Rand
- Feb 2003: One-man show at Venue formerly Known as The Mark on Pine St. in downtown Orlando, FL
- May 2004: Exhibition of 7 paintings at The Deltona Arts and Historical Center in Deltona, FL
- June 2005: One-man show at Caffe da Vinci in downtown Deland. “Painting and Assemblage” show with many musical performances on opening night.
- Sep 2007: Group show at Platform Florida event #11 in downtown Lakeland, Florida
- June/July 2008: *Huge one-man show at The Tongue and Groove Gallery / Caffe da Vinci. Gar Bailey’s - “Neo-DaDa Maximalism in 2008″
Influences:
Painting: Jackson Pollock, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Banksy, Andy Warhol, Michael Blair Scott, Brett Hamil , Daas
Assemblage: Kurt Schwitters, Ray Johnson, Robert Rauschenberg, Tobias Stretch Sculpture: Alexander Calder, Tim Hawkinson, Paul McCarthy, Andy Goldsworthy, Chris Burden, Isamu Noguchi
Art Film & Video: Stan Brakhage, Len Lye, Pan/Dos, Hexstatic
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Testimony Of Peers and Friends:
“This Gar-Baileyian process is one of selection, refinement, and further corruption, all directed towards an impenetrable sight/vision which blends the chameleon-like into the crapulous nature of the materials.” - Brett Hamil - Stand-up Comic & Painter from Seattle, WA.
“Gar Bailey’s work is so original and soulful and, that it evades all comparisons to any other artist before him. There is not a single piece that can be glanced at and dismissed, each work of art engages you and challenges you to come in closer, to see the details and subtle messages contained within.” - Daas - American Painter by way of Japan
“Gar Bailey’s art work speaks with a rainbow tongue. Following through a labyrinth of consistent and fluid brush strokes, he brings his audience on a tour of dream-like conceptualism, through zoos of aboriginal-like faces and creatures, and visually treats them with opiate laced candy canes of intense imagination and hallucinogenic like compositions.” - Brian Cunningham aka A_Scissors of Merritt Island, FL.
“Eye Music, with a mysterious bag of left over parts.” - R. Garcia - Nophi Recordings of Atlanta, GA.
“Gar’s art is the full expression of his subconscious. A splattering of his spirit into the physical realm.” - Mic Mell - Polyvibe Records of Orlando, FL
“Most artists who chose abstraction as a means of expressing themselves only do so because they are incapable of producing works of realism; this is not the case with Gar Bailey and his paintings and sculptures. Crossing the boundaries of all genres, and doing so in a stylistic way, Gar’s art defies classification and pushes the envelope of visual goodness. Gar has a way of encasing a single moment in each canvas, taking you by your hand and telling you the story of that moment, then dropping you off safely back in the gallery much richer for the experience.” - Robert Caperton aka Drone Operator of Orlando, FL
“Be it the visual, musical, or textural.. They say artists are born, and not made. Since the early 90’s, Mr. gaR Bailey has been pushing the envelope in all aspects of creativity. The evolution of a true self-taught artist is rare, and I am pleased to say I have witnessed his genius first hand.” - Aaron Watson of Edgewater, FL.
“Somewhere the owner of a factory is turning out “widgets” and thinking to himself how smart he is for creating something to be used as it was designed…that is until Gar sees it laying around one day and corrupts it’s original purpose. To Gar everything becomes something but, nothing for which it was intended. How he sees life, art, and the world for just one moment, is a gift everyone should experience.” - Dennis “Jake” von Radesky of Deltona, FL
“Gar is a master at creating things. Whether it be music, or sculpture, or drawings, collage or painting. He can “re-create” found objects. He can spread paint onto canvas and bring out the beauty of every detail within it. His work, no matter what medium, shows originality, raw emotion, and vulnerability in every piece of work created. A myriad of beauty and originality spoken in the language of art, a language interpreted differently by all who view it.A world without having experienced the talents of Gar Bailey is like a world without color. He puts his entire being into everything he does, constantly fine tuning and rearranging until the last stroke. A stroke of genius. He is blessed with several talents, some intrensic, some learned, but they are mostly self-taught.. “ - Dana Bailey aka Minkinace of Osteen, FL (Gar’s Wife)
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