Not like the other

Friday Artwalk at 3 fish gallery was the place to be. Max and Erin Leon "Not like the other" showing.
The brother / sister team brought their finest which, as usual, set the bar a little higher in the Portland Maine art circle. From the opening of the doors, until the night was over 3 fish was buzzing with activity.
3 Fish Gallery at 377 Cumberland ave is hosting the artwork until the end of the month, and not all of it has sold... yet.

The Leons are becoming some of Portlands more collectible artists as their work has been showing up regularly with consistent outstanding quality and improvement for well over 15 years. With every show, art walk, and display Max Leon and Erin Leon show growth experimentation and jaw dropping talent in every piece.

For this show Erin profiled her amazing handmade prints which not only exhibited her expert use of line, energy and form, but also profile her ability as a master craftswoman in her medium of choice.
Max exhibited a number of geometrical sort of pieces he has dubbed Tetronometry. A very exciting, new and unexpected direction for the artist. Many Max Leon collectors were expecting the en caustic and oil paint work from his past but were surprised and very pleased with "Tetronometry". Clean lines, geometric patterns, shapes and forms.

As I walked through the exhibit people were buzzing and chatting one another up in the usual way. What struck me most were the viewers of the art. People were immediately drawn in and would be staring at a piece. The conversation was breaking the viewing reverie for many of the opening attendees.
Returning before the month is over would be well worth the trip to fully have an opportunity to take in the work displayed before it is gone or sold.

I honestly can't find the words to express my complete impression of the work the Leons displayed. I could thumb through a book of art critique and design terms for a few hours and piece together some mish mosh that would fall sadly short of transferring the experience to you my readers. After a number of drafts, none leave me satisfied with anything that could do justice to the work I saw. I can only urge everyone to make an effort to get into 3 fish and stand in front of the pieces displayed. I had to check my own bank balance a number of times during the evening with a desire to bring something home.
I have been blessed with the friendship of the Leon family for quite a few years now and make no mistake that every time I find a doodle in one of my sketchbooks, or a piece gifted or purchased over the years it finds its way to a frame, and a special place in my home.
While the work is amazing, it is a chapter in the ever expanding work of Max and Erin. I believe the work for both artists displays a place of achievement and mastery. This show also lets us know that what we saw was certainly "Not Like the Other"