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Relay Points: OnePost an Event »

Vessel Gallery

July 26 - August 28, 2011

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471 25th Street Oakland, CA 94612
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Relay Points: One Station One (details) triptych 30" x 40" pen and ink on paper by Bryson Bost
Vessel Gallery is proud to debut “Relay Points: One” drawings by Bryson Bost. The first of a series of five shows that will complete the 14 Stations of the Cross Vessel Gallery presents abstract pen and ink drawings by Bryson Bost. “Relay Points” is inspired by the spirit and structure of the Stations of the Cross, an ancient Catholic devotional tradition that continues to this day. These works mark the stations along a spiritual pilgrimage during which the artist witnessed, in spirit, scenes of Christ’s suffering. They are epic journeys undertaken in the artist’s psyche and made manifest by the meticulous work of his pen. They are records of intense meditation, the fruit of intellectual calculation and spiritual discipline--the guided intention of a visionary artist. “Relay Points” is the first of a series of five planned exhibitions that will eventually comprise all fourteen of the stations. This first exhibition presents triptychs inspired by the first three stations: Jesus Is Condemned to Death, Jesus Is Given His Cross, and Jesus Falls for the First Time. Also included are independent drawings that pay homage to various saints. “Some source that is not myself solicits me to give it material expression. I become a conduit through which this source delivers hope and beauty. The work that I do on one piece becomes a prayer that I might continue to be inspired and that more pieces might issue from me. Sometimes my prayers are answered, but answered or not, my prayerful attention to this source while I’m working is what makes me happy. I’m thankful to be a participant in something special. The future is full of color and patterns. New forms are popping up everywhere.” - Bryson Bost “Bryson reminds me of both an outsider artist and a grand classical composer. He is an artist with extreme focus and a very high level of discipline. These drawings are incredibly intricate, detailed, map-like traces of his lucid dreaming--beautiful, illuminating labyrinths. They record Bryson’s sojourn in the land of the spirit. I look forward to seeing more treasures brought back from his journeys.” - Lonnie Lee, Curator Bryson Bost was born on Christmas Eve, 1982, in Santa Monica, California. He grew up in San Luis Obispo County. He has been drawing all his life. Artist son of an artist father, Bost nevertheless is largely self-taught. Many long conversations with his father fueled Bryson’s creativity, but Bost senior refrained from directing Bryson’s creative energies into a particular art form. Beyond a year of classes in the Monart method of teaching young children to draw, Bryson’s formal education in the arts has been limited to a few introductory studio and art history courses. At 18, Bryson received his calling to the artist’s life: He experienced an epiphany that inspired him to pick up his pen and write. Many spiritual poems, plays, and novels later, however, “My pen switched focus,” he says. He has since devoted himself entirely to drawing. Bryson seeks his inspiration from the universe envisioned by the Catholic tradition. A frequent traveler around the Pacific rim, Bryson nourishes his art and spirit with the swirling energies he absorbs in places like Guanajuato, Kamakura, Kyoto, and Lamma Island.
Relay Points: One detail of pen and ink drawing by Bryson Bost