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• Phasing Out with “Subconsciously Awkward”

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(Matt Harlan)

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14 Brushes »
Address: 122 W. Main St. Urbana, IL 61801
Phone: (217) 722-1395
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Cinema Gallery »
Address: 120 W. Main St. Urbana, IL 61801
Phone: (217) 367-3711
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If you’re not careful, there’s a chance you’ll miss the 14 Brushes Art Gallery on Main Street in downtown Urbana. If you don’t come soon, you’ll never experience this local art haven.

Owner Lisa Johnson said it is no longer feasible to stay open as she cannot afford to support the gallery on her own, and the gallery doesn’t sell enough to keep itself open with shows that sell $50 to $200.

“It was ok with me that we weren’t making money, because Linda, my co-curator, and I were really dedicated to making sure the space was a “gallery” and not a “store” — and I think by doing that we really filled a need in the community. But, I just can’t keep it open without a way to pay for it,” Johnson said via email.

Located next to Urbana’s Cinema Gallery, a wide but discreet stairwell leads to the small and cozy gallery currently showcasing “Subconsciously Awkward,” a collaborative effort of local artists Ryan Fraser and Jamie Gold, and one of the last shows the gallery will have before closing its doors. Venture to the gallery and here’s what you can expect.

Gold’s photographs start off the exhibit, displaying eerie cinematic moments, such as what looks like a scene from a film noir — a woman screaming from the outside of a car pulling away with a man inside.

“Whenever we work, we never intend for our work to have a certain creepiness about it,” Gold said. “But sometimes it just shows through. It comes through the subconscious.”

Gold’s other photographs have an old Victorian vibe to them, capturing twisted old trees in hauntingly bare, but beautiful forests and the silently distraught, almost comatose faces of girls.

Fraser’s work is the second half of the show. He incorporates a variety of different media like canvas and paper. The abstract pieces utilize bold colors and patterns, but somehow manage to convey a darker message to the viewer.

Fraser said much of his work has evolved from a “semi-realistic surrealism to kind of an abstract expressionism,” and now, a combination of the two.

“With my work, I like to not think too much about the subject matter ... (I) just go off the first idea (I) have,” he said. “When you put it on canvas, it’s easier for the viewer to interpret it for their own.”

“Subconsciously Awkward” will be on display until at least the end of June. The gallery is currently curating an open call show that will begin in late June or early July. If you want to seize the opportunity before its too late, anyone interested in submitting work can contact Fraser at ryanmichaelfraser@gmail.com.