For the past 20 years, Whitney Pintello has worked in the figurative art realm and perfected her craft in glasswork.
Under the Covid-19 lockdown, the Gilroy artist has branched out to the abstract. Those works, many of which have never seen the light of day, can now be viewed by anyone walking, riding or driving through downtown Gilroy.
“Emerging,” a collection of 13 acrylic on canvas works by Pintello, is the inaugural exhibition of 6th Street Studios & Art Center, a new place for local artists to rent studio space, hold classes, exhibit their work and other opportunities at 64 West Sixth St.
The works can be viewed 24/7 through the facility’s large street-facing windows, which provide a floor-to-ceiling view of the colorful abstracts Pintello has been creating over the past year.
During the initial shelter-in-place order, Pintello said she was drawn to the abstract after taking a workshop from United Kingdom-based artist Louise Fletcher.
“The idea and the feeling of abstract, and having the time to work on them was wonderful,” she said.
Part of what excites Pintello about abstract is the varied feelings the works instill in the viewer, saying that she enjoys hearing from others their thoughts on her art.
The creative process itself can also evoke strong feelings, she added, perhaps more so than her other work.
“I feel so much more while I’m doing it,” Pintello said. “This is a lot more expressive, and it’s very unplanned. You don’t know when you’re going to be done.”
6th Street Studios & Art Center is the nonprofit arm of Gallery 1202, which is located around the corner inside The Neon Exchange at 7363 Monterey St.
The center offers a number of flexible studio spaces for artists, many of which are already rented, said director Emily McEwan-Upright. In addition, a shared studio space, available on a membership basis, will be outfitted with storage lockers, easels, drawing desks and other supplies. Artists can also rent out a room to use as a classroom.
Pintello’s work will be on display through Feb. 28, with the window front gallery rotating on a monthly basis. While March is open for artists to display their work, the space is booked until August, according to McEwan-Upright.
For information, visit 6thstreetartstudios.org.
