From Ice to Art

The old ice factory in North Park that was a central challenge and stage for the work of Joseph Huppert, an artist we recently profiled, will be buzzing for the next several months.

Huppert and some friends have an art salon, a weekly gathering at Café Bassam in Bankers Hill where they discuss and debate art and philosophy. They have been meeting on Sunday nights for the last five years.

And the core members of that same crew will be showing art this fall now that the old ice factory was fixed up for Huppert’s installation.

The other shows will be Lee Lavy, Thomas DeMello and Michael James Armstrong. Lavy’s work, advertised as a “painting and installation” show, will open Sept. 18.

Three of the four worked together at Blick, the arts supply store in Little Italy. And then three worked at Museum of Contemporary Art.

Now, Huppert works for artist Robert Irwin. DeMello works at MCASD, Lavy at L Street Gallery and Armstrong at Quint, Huppert said.

“We’re all looking at art all day every day,” Huppert said.

And all creating it themselves.

You can follow the gallery’s events here.

Please contact Kelly Bennett directly at kelly.bennett@voiceofsandiego.org or 619.325.0531 and follow her on Twitter: @kellyrbennett.