Through his solo exhibit “Reflections between Light and Shadow,” held at Art Verite Gallery from July 19 to Aug. 6, artist Dave Alcon invited viewers to pause, breathe, and find meaning in the fragile, fleeting spaces of life.

The collection, composed of graphite and acrylic works rendered in minimalist elegance, reflected Dave’s personal experience of stillness, uncertainty, and growth.

“‘Reflections between Light and Shadow’ was inspired by my own personal experiences, moments of stillness, uncertainty, and growth,” Dave explained. “I began to see how both light and shadow have meaning: Light brings clarity, while shadow gives depth.”

Recurring motifs of clocks, fractured glass, and ephemeral materials populated Dave’s canvases, serving as metaphors for life’s impermanence.

“This piece reflected the balance between what we could control and what we couldn’t, and how the gray areas in life often held the most insight,” he said.

His personal favorite work, “Reflections,” stood out for its haunting imagery of floating clock parts, twine, and shards of glass.

“It captured the fragility of time, how it moved quickly, quietly, and often beyond our control,” Dave shared. “It represented the beauty and struggle of living in the in-between where light met shadow, and clarity met unknown.”

The pristine white backgrounds and delicate graphite strokes were achieved through painstaking care. Dave began by staging and photographing subjects, refining sketches digitally, and then translating them onto canvas. “Working primarily in graphite, which was difficult to control, required considerable patience and precision to keep the background pristine while carefully developing the details,” he recalled.

Embracing uncertainty also became central to his process. “Turning my personal experiences into visuals that others could relate to took a lot of trial and error,” Dave admitted. “Accepting imperfections and uncertainty became part of the process, making the collection more meaningful.”

Compared to his earlier, full-color works filled with bold compositions, “Reflections between Light and Shadow” marked a significant evolution. “I used to create full-color pieces with detailed subjects that filled the entire canvas. Now, I’m drawn to simplicity, focusing on black and white series, light, and open space to convey emotions and ideas,” he explained.

This restraint highlighted the interplay of light and shadow, presence and absence— mirroring the balance he sought both in art and in life.

Dave’s inspirations were grounded in personal experiences with family, friends, and the quiet moments of daily living. Even mundane objects—rope, bubble wrap, packaging tape—took on new meaning in his hands. For him, art was not just a career but a grounding force.

“Art helped me process emotions, reflect on experiences, and express things I couldn’t always say with words,” he said. “It brought me clarity and calm, especially during quiet or uncertain times.”

Though the exhibit has closed, its message lingers with those who experienced it. “With ‘Reflections between Light and Shadow,’ I wanted viewers to feel a sense of calm and presence, to pause, reflect, and embrace the moment,” Dave noted. “Time is fragile and never guaranteed. I hoped this work inspired others to live more intentionally, spending time on what they love, with the people they cherish, and finding peace in simply being.”