by Brandie Maddalena 

Dusk, dawn, twilight and the warm glow of neon glide along their cityscape dance floor, exposing the sublime moments of daily life... San Diego artist, Kim Reasor captures the subtle effects of light, glorifying and romanticizing the familiar, mundane Americana cityscape.  By meticulously choreographing events in paint, she brings passion to the back alley dumpster, mysterious-allure to a dilapidated massage parlor and transcendence to the local deli.  Her paintings explore the beauty of the abject with a sincerity and bravado that bridges contemporary content with traditional technique.

Through her painterly style, Reasor reveals her acute sensitivity to atmospheric conditions, which takes her iconic cityscapes from representational to the abstract within a single composition.  Reasor gives the viewer the opportunity to have a glimpse of the beauty and magic that can be found in daily life if we simply look, quiet events that can easily be overlooked. The specific light at a particular moment captures the personality of a location in Reasor’s hands, giving a view of humanity through the places in which we dwell.  In this tender homage, she examines our current state of existence, without subjectifying specific individuals, with deep understanding, forgiveness and empathy.  These pieces need to be appreciated in person to attain their full potency and subtleness.

As a member of the University Heights Art Association, Kim Reasor’s powerful work will be seen in the University Heights Arts Open, September 16 and 17 from noon to 6pm. Her new paintings will also be on exhibit at Hotel Solamar’s, “Art-at-6”, June 15 to July 12, 2006.  A portion of the proceeds will benefit A.R.T.S. (A Reason To Live).  Hotel Solamar, 435 Sixth Avenue, San Diego: (619) 819-9532.  To view more of Reasor’s artwork: wwwkimreasorart.com.

Image caption: "River of Forgetfulness", 40" x 30", oil on canvas, 2006