October 14 - November 5, 2017
Opening Reception: Saturday, October 14, 5 - 8pm
The People Games Play
Paintings and Games by Nicholas Cueva
Artist Talk: Sunday, November 5, 4pm
In this exhibition, Cueva presents a series of paintings that stem from visions of past moments after they were transformed by time and by the process of remembering. The intensity of emotions is partly conveyed through a lack: in certain areas, the surface of the fabric is left untouched, unpainted, mimicking the natural pattern of scars, peeled paint, or stains. The artist calls these blind spots “scotoma”, the medical term indicating a partial loss of vision in an otherwise normal visual field. These openings reveal the spots where the mind (and heart) fluttered, while providing an additional entry point into the work beyond what is depicted, offering viewers the possibility to “finish” the painting for themselves.
The games provide a similar space of reflection, but necessitate group interaction to complete the moment of art. Each game is built and conceived by the artist and has its own set of rules. Like all games, Cueva’s games extend, accentuate or disrupt social relations that already exist in the real world, and provide a way to work out problems between people – regardless of how “fair” or “right” the solution is. The public is invited to read the rulebook and to play the games on display during the duration of the exhibition.
About the Artist
Nicholas Cueva was born in 1983 in Los Alamitos, California. He earned an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Painting and Drawing, where he advised with with Albert Oehlen and Jerry Saltz, among others. He has lived and worked in New York since 2011 and is an active member of the Bushwick art scene.
GALLERY HOURS:
Thursday through Sunday, 1pm to 6pm; or by appointment.
DIRECTIONS:
Take 2, 3, or 4 trains to Franklin Avenue. Walk two blocks against the traffic on Franklin. Walk ¾ block to 558 St. Johns Place. FiveMyles is within easy walking distance from the Brooklyn Museum.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
FiveMyles is in part supported by the New York State Council for the Arts, Public Funds from the New York City Dept. of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Council Member Laurie Cumbo, the Greenwich Collection, The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation, the Lily Auchincloss Foundation, the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation. The panel discussion is made possible thanks to a Humanities NY Action Grant.