Show Preview | Evergreen Fine Art: Kevin Weckbach

Evergreen, CO
February 7-28

Kevin Weckbach, Moving, oil, 10 x 14.

This story was featured in the February 2014 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art February 2014 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story!

The Mile High City offers a unique blend of skyscrapers and mountain views, nightclubs and brewpubs, buzzing city streets and charming old neighborhoods. For Denver artist Kevin Weckbach, the city also provides an endless supply of material for his paintings. In a solo show this month at Evergreen Fine Art, Weckbach presents several new works depicting industrial and urban scenes from Denver and elsewhere in Colorado. The show opens with an artist’s reception and gallery talk from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, February 7, and runs through the end of the month.

Kevin Weckbach, End of the Line, oil, 9 x 13.

Aptly titled New Directions, the show features 15 to 20 paintings, mostly oils, that represent new avenues of exploration for the artist. While Weckbach has never limited himself to one subject, he has become particularly well known for his Colorado landscapes. But he wanted to show the public something other than “the streams and creeks they’re used to” in his latest body of work. “I’m changing my subject matter a bit to doing more industrial and urban scenes,” he says, explaining that while he has painted lots of urban scenes before, the pieces in this show feature more industrial elements—such as factories, trucks, railroads, bridges, and city streets—than his previous works. Additionally, these works were created using a variety of new methods that Weckbach has recently explored, including thinner paint application, stenciling, and working with lots of layers. “It’s been a complete change of pace, which is always a good thing for me,” he says, adding, “I’d get so bored doing the same thing all the time.”

Despite the new directions Weckbach is taking, collectors can rest assured that one thing will never change: his commitment to producing high-quality work that is both interesting and appealing to the viewer. “When I’m painting, I think about the viewer’s experience in technical terms—like how they’re going to be led into the painting, and how I’m going to direct them through it. It’s really about creating something that appeals to the visual sensibility of the viewer,” he says. Indeed, Weckbach’s work seems to draw people in on an almost visceral level. As the gallery’s Doug Kacena puts it, “there’s some real genius to him.” —Lindsay Mitchell

contact information
303.679.3610
www.evergreenfineart.com

Featured in the February 2014 issue of Southwest Art magazine–click below to purchase:
Southwest Art February 2014 print issue or digital download Or subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss a story!