Attending an opening at C. Grimaldis Gallery (523 N. Charles Baltimore, MD) is at once intimidating and inspiring. Mr. Grimaldis, in a sharp, blue pinstripe suit, greets in his gruff and austere manner, “Who are you?” As though one needs Pulitzer Prize credentials to enjoy an opening at his gallery.
Luckily, I passed enough to be able to float through David Brewster’s “Conflagration” which runs from April 15-May 15, 2010. “Conflagration” takes an eye to the Great Baltimore Fire in 1904. Most of his captivating pieces are done with liquefied pastel on Mi-Tientes. The smoldering oranges and purples were especially expressive in this collection.
The most interesting thing about Brewster is his execution of painting. Modifying his truck bed, he creates portable, large-format oil paintings with dimensions exceeding 40″x80″. Eschewing everyday brushes, Brewster opts for paint rollers and a liberal sweep of the hand to create the romantic and ethereal strokes seen in his paintings.
