By Jayne Behman
From entry to exit, Left Field is unlike any other commercial space. Once inside you can’t resist the urge to Facebook your location, Snapchat with at least one unique item, and tweet a phrase or two.
What drew me to visit Left Field was the intriguing title of its then current art exhibition (How High?). This showcase offered art works by many different artists in various media, styles, and sizes. The works were displayed according to the height of each artist’s outstretched arm to the middle finger. This unusual way of exhibiting the Art offered a remarkable visual experience. Who else but Nick Wilkenson, owner, would dare out-of-the-box exhibitions?
Nick Wilkenson is a San Diego State University BFA graduate in painting and printmaking with a focus on abstract works. His personal resume lists group shows at Fluorescent Gallery in Knoxville, TN., Fort Works Art in Fort Worth, TX, and The Woskob Family Gallery at Penn St. University, PA. He understands the importance of a dedicated gallery space to budding and seasoned artists.
Nick’s quest to bring his vision to reality needed the right space. This did not happen overnight. “I had been looking for a location to open a nursery in SLO for sometime,” he said. The indoor/outdoor feeling of this commercial floor plan is what drew his attention.
But, using the rear area as an art gallery was an after thought.
Divided into 2 parts, Left Field’s front space is electrifying. It is packed with exotic plants, all sorts of unusual items that you need to purchase, and weird foam sculptures. I resisted acquiring a 5-foot white porcelain sculpture of Mau Tse Tung sporting his famous salute but purchased a vintage Art Boart book that has a pink cover with black lettering.
Dedicated art gallery space is rare. Once Nick decided that the rear “storage” room would become just that, he committed to showcasing contemporary art not normally seen on the Central Coast. The exhibitions rotate every 2 months and the art is primarily painting and sculpture imported from larger urban markets like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
“This work brings a fresh feel to our community,” Nick said. “It is interesting, relevant, and underrepresented here.”
This is the genre of art that Nick is personally interested in and the reason that makes you want to return.
The current showcase, December 9 through January 2017, features New York artists, Kyle Breitenbach and Matthew Fisher. Stylistically these two artists are very different. They connect in their ability to bring a strong narrative into their work. The titles hint at the underlying stories. The work is simple, fresh, but elusive.
Visit Left Field located at 1242 Monterey Street, above Santa Rosa. This is the place to purchase one-of-a-kind gifts for this holiday season, and any time. When you are there, send me a photo tweet (httpss://twitter.com/psjayne) or post it on Facebook.
WHAZ UP N ART 2017 will offer insight into our county’s art scene next year. Email me your events/exhibition as they relate to visual art: [email protected].
