The Patrick Moore Gallery in Little Italy: When Moore is Better

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Art is about communication, right? Let's start locally. When it comes to communication, the central idea at the Patrick Moore Gallery in Little Italy is "the more the merrier," with a focus on modern contemporary work.

The San Diego art gallery showcases both established and emerging artists, with a range of media as broad as the city in which it lives. You might see a mural exhibit one week, and a show of sculptures made from recycled newspaper the next. Another show might feature an up-and-comer from Encinitas, followed by a well-known painter from London, or - just as likely - from Patrick Moore's sister gallery in Salt Lake City.

And while it's true that anyone who fills a room with of a slew of different people runs the risk of cultivating an awkward mess, Little Italy's Patrick Moore Gallery is anything but.

The Patrick Moore Gallery feels welcoming. The lighting is warm, the art is colorful, and there is that elusive sense of communication between the art and the people viewing it. It is a relatively intimate space - many temporary exhibits allow for a great deal of art to come through these doors without the need for five floors and a coffee kiosk - and one gets the impression that the gallery manifests a personal connection with the works on its walls and the artists that create them.

The space itself exudes a sense of possibility and travel. The floor plan is fluid and open, but is divided into two large rooms. This separation gives a visitor the sense that they can move between places, experiencing different locations while they absorb the variety in the visuals. The spatial richness of these rooms speaks to their other functions as well, which vary from day to day, but can include anything from chamber music, to dance parties, to swanky, five-course dinners.

So what's the deal? A fine art gallery by day and a rentable party space by night? I got a chance to speak with Mary Brooks, curator of the San Diego gallery, who gave me some insights into this mélange of artistic goodness.

When I ask her about hosting events, Mary grows excited: "Yes! We've had a few events so far. The Camarada Concert Series is going to be here - in December I think, and again in March."

It's refreshing to talk to people who like to share art, and not just show it off. Patrick Moore himself has said "it is a joy for me to sell art - to discuss it, embrace it and experience the true inspiration behind why a piece might excite an individual."

This applies not just to the fixed art that Moore decides to put on his walls, but to the dialogue he initiates with his clientele. Moore opens up his art space as an interaction space to private parties, and thus makes basic human expression into a kind of art in itself. The staff also specializes in archival framing, which allows the gallery to engage with artworks that already carry personal weight with clients.

It is this commitment to the art that happens between people which sets the Patrick Moore Gallery apart from many others.

The art gallery sits in the middle of a city where life happens, and it offers a sense of solace from the outside world. At the same time, it embraces life as it happens - this San Diego gallery is unpretentious, glad to play host to all forms of art and gathering, even boasting "ample space for a dance floor."

Nearing the end of my conversation with Mary, I wonder what interesting encounters she's had here as "mistress of ceremonies"; she is, after all, the main liaison between the artists and the public. Her voice lights up and she tells me about trying to find a hotel for Spanish painter Pilar Pobil.

"We couldn't find a room for her because - what was it. . .Comic-Con? - was going on, so we had her stay at the house," Mary recounts. "She's nearing 90, you know, and such an interesting character. We went for long walks on the beach. . ."

And that's the perfect example of what makes Little Italy's Patrick Moore Gallery different from other San Diego art galleries - it's the perfect mix of communication and community. For a list of current exhibitions, visit the Patrick Moore Gallery website.

Photos Courtesy of Mary Brooks