Contemplating Patterns: The work of Dan McCann and Bradd Skubinna

On a cold Thursday afternoon in downtown Spokane, my sister and I grabbed some chai from the Boots café on Main Street before heading across the road to check out the Saranac Art Projects gallery. If you’re looking to kill a few hours later this week, you should wander over there. The space is nestled next to the Magic Lantern theater and the Saranac Public House and contains two exhibition rooms which exit into a hallway that’ll lead you next door for a hot meal and an independent film showing post art viewing. My sister and I, however, had already eaten lunch when we arrived and were happy to circle the gallery several times with our hot drinks in hand (but it’s nice to know your options, right?)

The current exhibition in the Saranac gallery showcases the work of two artists: Dan McCann and Bradd Skubinna. When we stepped inside the front door, we were alone in the first gallery space, which was personally a relief for me, as I prefer to view art without the chaos and commotion of crowds. This room held, from first glance, what looked like several prints of altered sheet music on the walls to my right and left. The wall in between was the backdrop for an installation that held a stool and desk with a collection of belongings on it. This was Dan McCann’s exhibition titled, “A Blank Book for John Cage.” Although inspired by the music of composer and artist John Cage, McCann’s artworks were actually, at a closer look, altered dress patterns printed on about 15 wood panels, which seemed to add to the crafted feel of the artworks. Each panel had its own unique title such as #5: “Ask Your Body” or #4: “Mechanicalize Something Idiosyncratic,” to give you an idea, and in McCann's words, were intended to be a tribute to Cage and the concept of "Silence and Noise."

The second room of the gallery had a very different feel to it than the first as it contained significantly more color. Bradd Skubinna’s exhibit was a mix of 3-D and 2-D installations that involved disposable objects, drawings, and prints. Perhaps the most eye-catching of the collection of works were the three mandala-like designs made up mostly of plastic objects arranged on the gallery’s floor or the wall installations. From a distance the organization and symmetry of what Skubinna named “Arrangements” are evident but it wasn’t until I leaned closer to the works that I noticed the individual parts of the arrangements. The works included bottle caps, cherry stems, and the little plastic bands you rip off a new gallon of milk- things that no one considers, that people just toss out without a thought, that I wouldn’t expect to make up such beautiful designs. Skubinna's exhibition was titled "More" but was not assisted with an artist statement of any kind, leaving the contemplation of the meaning and inspiration up to your imagination. Although the two artists’ work were separated, I couldn’t help but notice the shared aspects of them. Both exhibitions contain the ideas of pattern and rhythm, as well as use unexpected things like dress patterns or empty tape dispensers to convey this.

So if you’re craving artistic enrichment and a relaxed afternoon, I’d urge you to make your way to Main street, to what the Inlander called a “sheek, yet classy” art gallery and check out these cutting edge contemporary artworks. (25 West Main Avenue, Hours: 12-5 Thursday 12-8 Friday 12-8 Saturday)