KALEID Gallery is proud to present the feature exhibition:

Occasional Optimist by resident artist Katie Gutierrez

For years, I have kept a “Year of Fun” list. A chronicle of all the positive things that had transpired during the year, as well as planned escapades that I was looking forward to. The list took a turn in early 2020.

This is a collection of new work inspired by some of the things I have worried, daydreamt, laughed and cried about, been comforted by and endured during the pandemic, from the silly to the downright traumatizing. It would be easy to drown in the awful, but the Occasional Optimist in me is hopeful that going through these extraordinarily difficult times can force real growth and change for the better.

About the Artist:
My work tends to revolve around CHANGE – good, bad, or otherwise – and its effects. I paint my feelings, and I love the meditative and sensory experience of working with wax. Texture, depth, and color (or lack of) are very important aspects of my work, and my paintings are typically created from a combination of encaustic paint, paper, fabric, cold wax, ink, shellac, bronze powder, mica, watercolor, and acrylic. My experience has been a mix of learning how to do things properly while simultaneously experimenting in practices that would most likely result in epic failure – and as a huge fan of the “happy accident,” something I have learned not to worry about. 
www.katiecgutierrez.com

Opening reception:
First Friday May 7th, 5pm–9pm.
Free admission, all ages, mask required. 
Artist will be in attendance.

Exhibition dates: May 7–28, 2021

View available artworks online.

Gallery Hours: Thursday–Friday Noon–7pm, Saturday Noon–5pm & First Fridays 5pm–9pm.
Free admission. Social distancing and mask required at all times in the gallery.

KALEID Gallery
320 S. 1st St.
SoFA District downtown San Jose
Email: info@KALEIDGallery.com
Phone: 408–947–1785