Robert Nelson’s reclaimed art work “The Flag Waver”– made from wooden objects and recycled materials– is one of many pieces on display for Gallery 621’s exhibit “Perfect Square.” (Photo by Nick Sestanovich)

Last year, Gallery 621 members hosted the exhibit “Perfect Square,” featuring works that were exactly 12 X 12 inches— no bigger and no smaller. The exhibit was such a success, that the member artists are hosting it again, bringing the premise full circle— or rather full square.

According to member artist Nikki Basch-Davis, the gallery artists had discussed whether or not to have a different concept for the last exhibit of the year, but seeing how well the previous “Perfect Square” went over— both in the quality of the work and the reaction from the public—they decided to repeat it.

“If it’s something we can continue a few years, then the public can expect to come,” she said. “They’re always curious about buying work for half the price or a third of the price.”

The premise is the same as last year’s. All of the member artists create works that are precisely 12 X 12 in any format(s) they choose. Basch-Davis said viewers can expect the same kinds of works they saw last year, but she said the quality is even better partly due to the advantage of it being the second installment.

“When you go through something once and you know what’s expected, you meet the task with higher expectations of yourself,” she said. “Some of these people came up with work way better than I’ve seen before. It’s exciting, it’s varied (and has) many, many different ways of expressions.”

As with last year, the works are created in a variety of media, including oil painting, pastels, acrylics, ceramics, mixed media, collage and more. One artist, Robert Nelson, is a major proponent of reclaimed art, which takes various objects and turns them into something new. For example, one piece titled “Flash’s Rocket Fails to Launch” is a rocket ship made from a starting fluid canister. Another piece, “The Flag Waver,” uses wooden objects and recycled materials to create a man waving a flag. Among other works are “Pinnacle,” a saggar-fired ceramic pyramid by Daniel Klapprott, 3-D porcelain ceramic dice also by Klapprott, and various forms of paintings by the likes of Lee Wilder Snider, Jerrold Turner, Dennis Smith and new member artist Rondall Reynoso. Basch-Davis’ contributions are in a medium called monotype, in which a drawing or painting is made on a non-absorbent surface and transferred to a sheet of a paper through a printing press. It is so named because only one print is made.

“When you say it’s a print, people think you have 50 of them, but it’s not,” the artist said. “When it’s a monotype, it’s one of a kind. You can not create more than one.”

Basch-Davis likes the diversity of the art on display.

“People didn’t just go into their storage and pick something up and manipulate it in some way,” she said. “They actually worked toward creating images specifically for this show.”

Basch-Davis said that when people paint next to each other, their styles can influence one another. The work in “Perfect Square,” however, was done without influence from other artists.

“It’s very normal to be influenced by other things you see in art but these people are uniquely individual in what they’re doing,” she said.

“Perfect Square” is on display through Dec. 31 at Gallery 621, located at 309 First St. A reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 11. Basch-Davis said if the weather is good, it will be held in the patio area and attendees will have a chance to mingle with all the member artists.

“It is nice when people who are interested in our art can meet the artists themselves,” Basch-Davis said. “Artists love to share.”

People are encouraged to buy the pieces that they like. Gallery 621 is open from noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. For more information, call the gallery at 297-6860.

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