Opening Reception: Cool Water: A Toe Dip into Neo-Western

Cool Water: A Toe Dip into Neo-Western
on view: March 27–June 5, 2024
opening reception: Friday, March 29, 5-8 pm
artist talk: Friday, April 12, 5:30 pm

Durango Creative District is excited to invite you to the next exhibition for our Incubator for Emerging Artists featuring Jared Reed’s first solo exhibition, Cool Water: A Toe Dip into Neo-Western. Join us on Friday, March 29 for an exclusive reception showcasing Reed’s neo-western, pop surrealist paintings. The evening will be further enhanced by a musical performance by local musician Tyler Reed Smith.

Cool Water is a collection of explorative work cultivated over the past year in Reed’s newfound studio that neighbors Channel 37 in downtown Durango. Intentionally diverging from conventional Western motifs, Reed imbues his pieces with surrealism, leveraging vibrant colors and abstract compositions to redefine both genres and blend them together with pop influences. Through unrestricted experimentation, Reed delved into color and form, embracing larger canvases to explore their interplay. This exploration yielded a fresh perspective on traditional Western imagery, characterized by a fusion of fauvist principles and the uninhibited spirit of street art luminaries such as Os Gemeos, Aryz, and Vhils. Best defined as Neo-Western Pop Surrealism, Cool Water encapsulates Reed’s synthesis of diverse influences into a cohesive and captivating visual narrative.

Beer, wine, and small bites will be served alongside the art and music. We look forward to celebrating art, creativity, and community with you at this special event.