“The Blue Hour” will present a set of paintings by Alberto Ortega that depict luminous scenes of Raleigh at twilight and at night. The scenes evoke mysterious psychological narratives in which human presence is suggested but not revealed. Though executed in a realist style, these paintings are not mere descriptions of places. They expose a retrospective of the overlooked or forgotten stories behind what we’ve seen a thousand times.
Since moving here in 2008, I have spent the past four years getting to know (or perhaps, “trying to understand”) the Raleigh that lives and breathes underneath the landmarks and other popular representations. After several failed attempts, I began painting scenes of the city at dusk and into the night, realizing that the ghostly stillness of those images holds a very dense narrative content.” — Albert Ortega
OPENING OCTOBER 5, 2012:
The Blue Hour by Alberto Ortega Rodas
Friday Oct 5, 2012, 6p–10p
thru Oct 26, 2012
weekdays 10a–6p Saturdays 12p–4p
- DESIGNBOX: 307 W Martin St, Downtown Raleigh
- MORE INFO: www.designbox.us/2012/october/
- CONTACT: For further information or to schedule an interview, please contact Beth.
BACKGROUND
Designbox is a collaborative creative environment for entrepreneurs, creative firms, startups, and mobile professionals. Located in the downtown Raleigh Warehouse District, Designbox is Raleigh’s connection to creative culture, emerging art and design-oriented objects. Designbox is responsible in part for nationally recognized events such as SPARKcon, PBaRt, Kirby Derby Day, Xtreme Suburban Endurance Events and helping the City of Raleigh redevelop City Plaza.
Designbox Zones
DB Shop and Gallery – The new space has a new mission for the shop. We will continue to showcase local inspiring design and craft, but we will open up to celebrate innovative brands, ideas and products at both the product and national or international level. We will use gallery openings to host launch parties and pop-up shops to complement our history of a fine art focus. We will also celebrate the creative products of the DB tenants, and as a group, we will produce more and experiment more to show in the space.
Designbox Member Company Offices – a host of independent creative firms work here and collaborate together on community endeavors. These companies include:
- Gamil Design
- Joulebug
- Dick Jenkins, Architect
- Paul Friedrich
- Product Farm
- Raymond Goodman
Project Space – The project space is designed to be of use for all DB Member Companies in their daily non-computer-based work. Designbox will also host open projects throughout the year where we invite makers and innovators to fabricate, craft and learn about new techniques, tools and materials.
NEW LOCATION (5 doors down from our old space)! As of January 2012, we are now at 307 W. Martin Street (just West of the corner of Dawson), in the heart of the Raleigh Warehouse District. VAE is right next door, and CAM, Raleigh Denim, 311 and Flanders Galleries are all on Martin St. Hours are weekdays from 11a to 6p, and on most First Fridays from 6p-9p and Saturdays 12p-4p.