Gig Depio: "A Brief History"
Tuesday, November 18- Friday, January 9, 2015
Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 McLeod Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89121

Artist reception on Friday, November 21 from 5:30-7:30pm

"A Brief History" is a body of recent works by Gig Depio that focuses on the convergence of culture within the diverse population of Las Vegas. His paintings highlight the unique role of the individual and the collective efforts of the people who constantly reshape the cultural and economic landscape of the Las Vegas community. The exhibit will be on view from Tuesday, November 18 through Friday, January 9, 2015 at Winchester Cultural Center Gallery, 3130 S. McLeod Drive, just north of Desert Inn Road. A reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 21.

Depio is a figurative painter, strongly influenced by his father’s background in portraiture. His emphasis on the use of broad and heavy strokes, thick contour lines and a limited palette create a sense of brevity and urgency in his works. He believes that the grit and texture of the paint play an important role in the strength of form of his paintings.

His current works revolve tightly around social realism, drawing heavily from his involvement with Downtown Las Vegas culture and from past experiences in the Philippines as a socially active volunteer in the community youth council, university outreach programs, and the Philippine Red Cross. He is currently an active member of the Contemporary Arts Center and an advocate for the arts in the Las Vegas community.

The focal point of the exhibition is a 16-foot wide oil on canvas diptych entitled "A Requiem for the Outsiders". The diptych is a visualization of the exploding growth of the world population and touches on issues of immigration, the interconnectedness of global resources, and the mythical impression of Las Vegas (and America) as an oasis of opportunity.

After graduating from the Ateneo de Manila University, Gig Depio worked as an apprentice under his father, Gig C. De Pio, a Fine Arts professor in the University of the Philippines. His early works focused mainly on "Mother and Child" paintings, a popular "family" theme influenced by Filipino culture, but has recently focused on Social Realism after revisiting past studies on Social Dynamic Theory. Gig Depio has exhibited in group shows across the United States and overseas, including Massachusetts, Indiana, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Manila.