Back Open
The Brea Gallery will be presenting its first exhibition of 2021 starting January 30th through March 26th. As of the time that this is being written, Orange County has just moved back into the Purple Tier, with the regional Stay at Home orders being lifted. Along with this update came the news that the Brea Gallery is now able to open to the public as a retail space in order to allow visitors to shop in the Gift Shop featuring over 40 local makers and purchase artwork on display. Gallery hours will remain Wednesday through Sunday, 12pm to 5pm. Advanced reservations are not required, but capacity will be limited. Masks, social distancing, and temperature checks are required for entry. Online shopping with curbside pickup is still available during the same hours.
Now on display.
Taking Up Space is a deeply personal and intimate group show that features a diverse group of women artists who share their stories, cultures, and perspectives through their artistic practice. Staged to supplement rather than negate the typically male-dominated exhibitions of the past, this show will highlight experiences, struggles, and strengths of these women while providing visitors an opportunity to look through the eyes of this group of talented artists who will come together in the space. Ten phenomenal artists are featured in the exhibition: Chloe Allred, Catalina Bellizzi-Itiola, Hazel Choo, Alexandra Carter, Lanise Howard, Carmen Mardonez, Elisa Ortega Montilla, Juliana Rico, Jacqueline Valenzuela, and Diane Williams.
The Taking Up Space exhibit will also be presented virtually in a variety of ways. During the course of the show, January 30th – March 26th, online visitors will be able to explore the exhibition through a 3D rendered click thru tour on ArtSteps, images and video of the exhibit alongside video interviews with the artists on the Gallery’s blog and social media, artist Instagram Takeover weekends, IG live curator tours, and a Zoom Artist Panel. More details to be determined and announced soon.
Due to the sudden and extended closures last year, the Brea Gallery postponed the Taking Up Space exhibit, which had originally been scheduled to be on view during the summer of 2020, in order to continue plans for last year’s annual Made in California Juried Exhibition. But now the Gallery and it’s Director and Curator Heather Bowling are eager to share this much-awaited exhibit with the public.
In addition to extensive safety measures such as required masks, social distancing, and temperature checks, in addition to extensive cleaning and sanitizing, the Gallery is also forgoing its usual large-scale opening reception and has moved events such as the FreshAIR artist in residence weekends and artist panels online.
Visitors can find out about future exhibitions and workshops at breaartgallery.com or by following the gallery on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @breagallery.
The Brea Gallery is located in the Brea Civic & Cultural Center at 1 Civic Center Circle, Brea, CA. Open hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 12pm – 5pm. For more information, call (714) 990-7731 or visit www.breaartgallery.com.
