Alex Vietti Opening Reception at AAU Galleries

Local artist Alex Vietti soon will showcase his latest series of construction paintings that shed light on the enormous expenditure of effort necessary to arrive back at a state of stability and structure.

The series, aptly named “Construction,” will be exhibited from July 2 through Aug. 27 at The Galleries of the Academy of Art University - better known as the AAU Galleries - at The Cannery, 2801 Leavenworth, in San Francisco.

Vietti, an award-winning artist whose works have been on display at art galleries throughout the Midwest, chose to create the realist series after walking through city streets and consciously re-evaluating the work of the men and women wearing hard hats and construction boots.

“Steadfast structures - the tall buildings, bridges, the houses we live in - give us a feeling of security needed to perform our daily tasks, to go to work, to live our lives,” Vietti writes. “The luxury of stasis, manifested brick by brick by laborers, is ... provided to those preoccupied with the function of these structures. But for construction workers, these structures are the ebb and flow of drastic changes in the world, and it is all in a day's work.

“My painting series of construction workers tells how they transform the world …” Vietti continues. “From their daily labor, they give birth to the new structure, the replacement, the new landmark of stability. Observing them working has given me the chance to look into another world, a constantly fluctuating world that lays the foundation for my own as I walk through the city.”

An opening reception will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 10, during which Vietti will be available to answer questions about his work.

Vietti holds a master of fine arts degree in painting from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. He earned his bachelor of fine arts degree in drawing from Northern Illinois University.

The AAU Galleries pay tribute to the work of students, faculty and alumni of AAU. New exhibits open every first Thursday of the month, providing a rich array of artwork for members of the San Francisco community.

The Cannery is home to several shops and restaurants on Leavenworth Street, in the heart of San Francisco’s historic Fisherman’s Wharf. Built by Del Monte in 1907, it once was the largest fruit-canning plant in the world. The historic location draws countless locals and visitors each day.

For more information about Alex Vietti, visit http://www.alexvietti.com. For operating hours of the AAU Galleries at The Cannery, visit http://www.aaugalleries.com.