Grant Wiggins

Phoenix New Times offers this coverage on the “pop-up” galleries (temporary galleries with month-to-month rent) that are springing up in downtown Scottsdale, made possible by the nosedive in the commercial real estate market.

Scottsdale’s Marshall Way was hit pretty hard by the downturn; late last year, vacancies turned the once-thriving gallery district into a ghost town.

The article highlights Soyal Gallery, operated by my friends Spencer Hibert and Emmett Potter III, as an example of how a struggling economy has created opportunities for emerging gallery owners and their rosters of artists (such as myself, who is mentioned on page three of the article).

The piece also ties the development of local pop-up galleries with a West Coast and international phenomenon, wherein hard-to-rent commercial spaces have been routinely transformed into venues for successful galleries.

“The history of the art world has always been about revitalizing places no one wants to go,” observes John Spiak, curator at Arizona State University Art Museum. “Galleries have consistently raised property values. … Move in somewhere that will bring activity, and the rest of the surrounding businesses will do better.”

— Grant Wiggins

Now that my solo show at Soyal Gallery in Scottsdale is officially two weeks away from today. Here are the official details about the show:

About the show: I will showcase a wide number of new “reductive” paintings, characterized by clean edges, bold geometric shapes, and vibrant combinations of colors. The show is built upon, and expands upon, my Fall 2009 collection of paintings. This will be my first solo show in more than three years.

Why the show is called Circles with Corners: To me, Circles with Corners has two meanings. First the controlling design of this collection of paintings features a hexagonal shape, which resembles a circle with corners. Metaphorically, I think the creative process is circular — I keep returning to certain designs, and try to build upon them. But in that process, I encounter detours — corners within the circle — that make the adventure of making art so interesting.

About Soyal Gallery: The exhibit will be the first solo show organized by Soyal Gallery. Co-owners Emmett F. Potter III and Spencer Hibert are two local Phoenix artists ready to bring something fresh and exciting to the Scottsdale art district.

Spencer Hibert says: “The name of the gallery, Soyal, is the Hopi tribe’s yearly winter solstice celebration. It symbolizes a new beginning of growth; and that is exactly what we want to bring to the area. Grant is important to us because he has always pushed the boundaries with his imagery and bold use of color. Grant and his work represent a progressive movement towards modern aesthetics.”

Emmett Potter says: “With Soyal, we are really excited to have the chance to expose people to an art scene that has been gaining momentum in places like Tokyo, San Francisco, London and New York,” according to Potter. It was important for us to kick this off with a local artist, like Grant, that we felt would help tie Scottsdale into that movement.”

What I have to say about Soyal: “For me, being invited to be the ‘lead-off’ painter in Soyal Gallery’s lineup of artists is a true honor, and I plan to show my appreciation by putting together a solid show.”

See you there!

— Grant Wiggins