April 7 – 30, 2022
In Rate of Change, Aaron Brady uses his unique process to demonstrate our impact on the environment and its ability to flourish in our absence. The series was originally inspired by the spring of 2020 when the initial outbreak of COVID resulted in a pause in manufacturing and commuting. In this brief time, pollution levels fell, skies cleared and foliage returned. However as time passed, we restarted our routines and our threat to nature continued to be more dire. With these paintings, Aaron hopes to raise awareness and provoke emotional, visceral responses to climate change.
Aaron has developed a process that captures the mood and movement of what he observes without being a direct visual recording. His original source material are videos of instances of environmental growth and destruction. These images are first transformed through graphite drawings which capture the shapes and motion present in the video. The drawings are further abstracted through watercolor and acrylic washes. Evocative color and form flow into layered clusters of pure expression. The end result are paintings that capture the feeling of a world in peril which are aesthetically alluring and equally disturbing. In this show, Aaron portrays trees growing, factory exhaust combining with clouds, ecosystems decaying, forests burning and chemicals mingling with fresh water.
Aaron graduated from Duke University with a BA in Economics and a Minor in Visual Arts then completed classes at San Francisco Art Institute Public Education and UC Berkeley Extension. Aaron has had a career in marketing and has been involved in art nonprofits for the past 20 years. He recently cofounded LoCA, a company that connects local artists with businesses and art buyers in their community.
“Rate of Change” will be on display at Gallery 110 from April 7 – 30. The gallery is open to the public from 12PM to 5PM on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and by appointment (director@gallery110.com). Or stop by during the Pioneer Square First Thursday Art Walk on April 7 from 4-8PM.
On the work of Aaron Brady
A review of Rate of Change written by Saundra Fleming
April 29th, 2022 / Seattle, WA
Between Flourish 1 and Flourish 2 and Corrode 1 and Corrode 2, two diptychs embrace a joyous perception of life thriving on our planet, as well as the tragedy of our chaotically torched environment. A viewer can experience the whole nightmare, as it currently stands, through these poetic paintings in watercolor and acrylic on paper coming through Mr. Brady’s hand. He seems to create in us a political question through a seeming paradox. Any PROGRESS and a true political response is confusing and difficult- that would be relevant with our current form of government.
In the year 2020, as manufacturing and commuting lessened in our world, there was heightened birdsong, pollution levels dropped and we found ourselves trapped between the reality of existing on the planet and the burgeoning tragedy that we feel pretty powerless to affect. The overall feeling I come away from this work with is a kind of “riotess” cry! What can one person achieve now? At least Mr. Brady has heightened our consciousness and paints for us a vision of nature, pristine and passionately glorious.
This exhibition at Gallery 110 runs through April 30. Come experience our most political of problems for this planet.
– Saundra Fleming
4/29/22
Seattle, WA
