EC Gallery presents The Art of Chad Smith, works by Red Hot Chili Peppers’ drummer

The Art of Chad Smith

February 27-March 1, 2020 | EC Gallery

Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith has embarked on a North American fine art tour for 2020. The third stop on the tour will bring the six-time Grammy winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee to EC Gallery in the Cedros Design District. The Solana Beach gallery was chosen based on the region’s rich history of supporting music and the arts. The iconic drummer will be making two live, meet-the-artist appearances: Saturday, February 29, from 5-8pm, and Sunday, March 1, from 12-3pm. The exhibition is presented in collaboration with Road Show Company, the industry-leader in traveling fine art exhibition. Ranch & Coast readers are invited to a special VIP reception with the artist on Saturday, February 29, from 12-2pm. RSVP is required. 800.599.7111, pr@ecgallery.com, ecgallery.com

Just as a painter uses brushes with oils of different colors, Smith works with lighted drumsticks photographed in long exposure to capture light in a variety of ways, crafting visual rhythms that translate to very unique artwork. Another feature of this exhibition will be a collection of original mixed media on drums; works created by printing one of Smith’s art images on a drum skin, which he then embellishes and signs.

Ranch & Coast connected with Smith in advance of his upcoming exhibition and appearance at EC Gallery. Speaking about the origin of his artform, he explains, “The people at SceneFour approached me in 2015 and said, ‘We’re doing this rhythmic art thing and are you interested?’ And that’s when I thought, ‘Oh this could be cool’ because there was a connection, musically, and that’s obviously something I’m comfortable with and know about.” Smith continues, “They said, ‘We want you to go into a dark room with a drum set and these light-up fluorescent drum sticks and play. And then afterward, there are a lot of ways that you can manipulate the images and the colors and the canvasses.’ So I worked with them on that, choosing stuff that looks pleasing to me that gets across the energy and the power and what I’m trying to convey, which to me was the challenge of trying to pick something as a drummer —such an audio and visual thing — and convey that to a flat canvas.”

Smith completed a piece and a collection that followed, and adds, “And then they wanted me to also embellish some of the art, so that’s been different this time around. I’m just viewing it in the moment and what inspires me looking at it, and how I can feel like I can make it more come to life. The idea that I’m trying to convey again with this collection is the power of the drumming and the fluidity to me and the color, and to me that’s really bright, so I would often add some bright colors and whatever I felt would enhance the image.”

Smith’s collection of 80 works will be on exhibition and available for acquisition. Access to the exhibition as well as the personal appearances are complimentary and open to the public, however a minimum purchase is required to spend individual time with the artist. RSVP is required. 800.599.7111, pr@ecgallery.com, ecgallery.com

Look for Managing Editor Deanna Murphy’s full interview with Chad Smith in the April issue of Ranch & Coast.

Chad Smith: Photo by David Mushegain & Laura Glass 2019     All artwork courtesy of Road Show Company 2019