Perverse Foil

Marcas Contemporary Art opened it’s doors July 5th on the East End of Santa Ana California’s downtown district, bringing with it a bold vision of contemporary art and further expanding the art offerings in this burgeoning Orange County arts neighborhood. The latest project of veteran curator Dana Jazayeri and artist Steven Daily, Marcas Contemporary Art is set up to be not only a gallery, but a welcoming space where artists and art enthusiasts can gather, interact, and foster ideas collectively.

Opening August 2, the newest exhibit, “Perverse Foil” is a rare collaboration between two Los Angeles based artists hitting the top of their stride. In this exhibit, painter Dan Quintana and photographer Karen Hsiao are working together and blending their respective mediums to evoke complex life themes through symbolic expressions of dark truths. In addition to the collaborative pieces, the show will include individual works by both artists.

Uniquely, an hour before the official opening of the show, attendees will be able to witness the creative process, as Hsiao will be photographing a live model in front of an elaborate backdrop created by Quintana. Hsiao’s unique approach to her subjects, utilizing a team of models, makeup artists, hairstylists, and couture fashions designers will materialize the show’s concept, creating a unique experience that is both tactile and intuitive.

Quintana, working in charcoal, has created eerie environments full of symbolism and shadowy realities to house Hsiao’s photographic specters. Channeling a style reminiscent of Hieronymus Bosch, the tones, brushwork and overall technique of Quintana yield a result that pays homage to the great 13th century master, but his subject matter and modern execution of the themes elevate his work to a class all of its own.

Marcas Gallery’s hugely successful grand opening laid testament to the exploding art scene in Santa Ana. “It’s great to be a part of the artistic growth of historical Santa Ana,” said Jazayeri, who also owns AS ISSUED: Art + Design Bookstore (www.asissued.com) at The Lab in Costa Mesa, “we studied carefully where we wanted to be and we’re excited to bring another level of art here.” Daily adds, “We believe strongly in Orange County and Santa Ana is widely recognized as the hot spot for art in Southern California right now. We’re proud to be a part of it and look forward to welcoming the community in.”

Jazayeri and Daily first starting working together as curator and artist over eight years ago. An established talent, Daily has shown his work all over the world for years and claims clients like Disney, Lucas Arts, Hasbro, Sony, HBO, T-Mobile, Dark Horse Comics- the list goes on and on. As their business relationship grew, Jazayeri and Daily began discussing the business of art, galleries, and how they could improve and/or change the status quo. ‘We wanted to make a gallery for the artist, a place where the work was more important than the building, Daily says, “like a museum or church, the building isn’t important, it’s what inside that matters.” Jazayeri has been in the business of art since the age of 20 and opened his first gallery, Subject Matter, in Costa Mesa in 2002. Since then, he’s seen the awareness of contemporary art expand across the globe. “Art is pop culture and artists are celebrities now,” he says, “today, most people view art as a consumer product. At Marcas, we will focus on the artists’ work. Inform collectors, the media and the public, and treat artists as creatives, not a commodity. Their image and the work is what’s important, we are merely a conduit.”

Indeed, a big part of the stated mission of Marcas is to bring the community and collectors into the gallery and encourage interaction between them and the artists. “It is a big part of our vision to create a space that is a real incubator for creativity, Jazayeri adds, “not just for the artists but also for the community. An exciting place for real people, real artists and real art.” Already slated are classes, workshops, and tutorials, meant to foster an understanding and appreciation of art while creating a space where artists and patrons collaborate, share ideas and foster creativity.

Images: Karen Hsaio/Dan Quintana "Perverse Foil"