Urban Summer Vibes
Gallery Chimera's newest exhibition showcasing city life and summer energy
Close your eyes and envision yourself in the city on a beautiful summer day. What do you feel? What do you see? What do you hear? I’m almost certain that your answers will differ from others, but all of the answers would probably commonly exude something yielding a vibrant energy. This is exactly what Gallery Chimera’s latest exhibition is all about. The Urban Summer Vibes exhibition features 19 talented artists, each with a beautifully diverse interpretation of summer in the city. The opening reception for Urban Summer Vibes was held on July 13, 2024, and it was an evening of inspiration, support, and artistic enthusiasm from everyone in attendance.
Upon entering the gallery, my attention was immediately grabbed by Savannah Hamilton’s pieces, Via Magnanapoli and The Kansas City Skyline. I was in awe as I studied these pieces. The way Hamilton captured the essence of summer through every fine detail is simply flawless. Not only can you see the energy of summer, but you can feel summer in both paintings.
Then there hangs The Delachaise by Meghan Mills. This 32x48-inch beauty commands attention, as it drew me in and took me on a romantic date on a beautiful summer night. Upon further research, I learned that The Delachaise is a restaurant in New Orleans, LA- making it even more interesting that this piece would reel me in the way it did, as I had recently returned from a trip to New Orleans. This painting makes me look forward to my next visit, which I’ll have The Delachaise on my list to experience the feeling I get from viewing this masterpiece.
As I explored more of the works I was stopped by West End Saturday Night by Garrett Stache. My first thought was, “Yes! what’s summer without the party vibes?” The energy I felt from this figurative abstract piece took me back to those Saturday summer nights with friends, hanging out in various parts of the city, partying the night away. In this painting, I see an energetic crowd all vibing, in their own world, as their favorite songs blast, and afterward, leaving with the memory of that one time in the West End on a Saturday night.
Throughout the gallery, you’ll find an array of other beautiful abstract pieces but, of course, my favorite is Abstract City by yours truly, Chantrice Rachelle. In this piece, the movement of lines and curves form abstract city buildings that make up the skyline, against a summery-colored sky. This piece is an homage to the great city of Atlanta and feels like I’m standing on the infamous Jackson Street Bridge, a popular destination for beautiful skyline photos.
Every piece in this exhibition invites viewers to get lost in the vibes of the summer. Many of the pieces take you on a summer trip to various parts of the world, while others may give a bit of nostalgia for summer memories. From paintings to sculpture to photography- there is something for everyone to love and I’m sure you’ll leave with a favorite.
Gallery Chimera is a contemporary art gallery and tattoo studio in Atlanta’s Poncey-Highland neighborhood. You can stop by and check out Urban Summer Vibes now until August 24, 2024.
