Scott O’Connor’s Blacklight Galaxsea is showing at the Harbor Village Gallery from Wednesday, December 1, 2010 to Monday, January 19, 2011. An opening reception will be held on Friday, December 3, 2010 from 5 – 8pm.

Blacklight Galaxsea is a ticket for a real good time. A blast from the past or s sneak peak into the future, this is how we step into a world of imagination. O’Connor’s devotion to be as original as he can has arrived and materialized behind the black curtain. Entering into the space O’Connor created for your enjoyment will leave a lasting impression especially with the 3-D glasses he provides.

O’Connor builds his paintings with depth and lots of texture. His thick colorful palate used for Galaxsea is in acrylic paint, because “oil doesn’t glow in the dark.” The neon and florescent colors used in his underwater, intergalactic subjects are displayed under blacklight to feel the full effect of the glowing energy illuminating from paintings. O’Connor’s previous work in oils was also thick in texture, but the oil paint easily lent itself to his desired heavy look. When switching to the paint you can see in under a blacklight he learned a few tricks about bulking up with mediums like glue and joint compound. No doubt easy to find in his contractor’s toolbox.

O’Connor lives in Ventura at The Galaxy Gallery, a home he often invites friends to for painting party’s or magic shows. The simple joy of entertaining and encouragement for others to be creative for art sake seems to be second nature to O’Connor. His instillation exhibit will entice those who believe in creative freedom as well as the non-believers.

O’Connor’s inhibition to tackle his wildest of ideas, to use brush strokes thick enough to create their own shadow and to bring to life his abstract concepts of pirate ships in space and flying sea creatures are paintings you experience, not just look at.

O’Connor has exhibited at the Old Town Studio Gallery in Camarillo and also has 29 oil paintings on exhibit at the Artist Gallery on Callens Road in Ventura.

This is O’Connor’s first solo exhibit with the Buenaventura Art Association.

The Harbor Village Gallery is located at 1591 Spinnaker Dr., entrance # 3 in the Ventura Harbor Village, next to the big lawn. Open Wednesday through Monday (closed on Tuesdays) from 12 to 5 p.m. For more information, call the gallery at 805-644-2750 or visit www.harborvillagegallery.com