Saying that artist Leandra Dibuelna Jr. is in his own fantasy world isnt an insult its just accurate. The 73-year-old Dibuelnas paintings are based on an imaginary planet he created called Triversi. He takes his figures, which live on the planet he devised and have a life of their own, and he places them into relationships and various activities, says Canal Street Gallery artist Mary Dickens. He wont tell you that hes doing surrealism, but there is no doubt that thats what it is. His characters are very Daliesque. He doesnt call them that, of course. He says, My art comes from me, not from some movement or school. But when you push him, he admits that people have compared his work to Dalís and yes, his work kinda goes in that direction.
No matter what label you use to describe them, the paintings in the exhibit Leandras World of Fantasy feature colorful, deceptively simple figures that seem to melt down the canvas. The 30-plus paintings on display for this exhibit are hung back-to-back in the middle of the gallery, rather than along the wall, adding to the sense that the figures arent tied to the laws of physics. Fantasy also includes several of Dibuelnas sculptures, which Dickens says go from a parody on Barbie all the way to futuristic car themes. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Through November 29. 2219 Canal Street. For information, call 713-223-2219 or visit www.canalstreetgallery.com. Free.
Tuesdays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Starts: Nov. 1. Continues through Nov. 30, 2008
This article appears in Nov 13-19, 2008.