view from upstairs

The oil paintings of Scott Smith and Shannon Kennedy complement each other nicely. Their two person show at the Upstairs Gallery is full of contrasts: Smith's small still-lifes have a spontaneous, sketchy quality and everyday subject-matter, while Kennedy's larger figural-architectural dramas have a meticulous, classical balance and a stage-like feel. Largely eschewing overt narrative or symbolism, both artists appear primarily concerned with the problems inherent in putting together a painting. With the exception of Smith's Kevin series, all of the artworks in the show are officially Untitled. However, the others are listed with informal secondary titles; I'll use those instead.

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