Enigmatic

Maitland’s swanky art party has relaunched for the winter season, and this one’s a don’t-miss. Nathalie Chikhi takes over the Germaine Marvel Building for one night only with Enigmatic, a show of paintings, drawings, sculpture and site-specific installation. In our review of Chikhi’s 2011 show at Twelve21 Gallery, we praised her “superflat neon-bright acrylics,” but this time around we’re particularly excited to see a new series of works in graphite, which combines two of our favorite things: geometric pattern and limitless shades of gray. Chikhi has been making waves in the wider world – she was part of the ArtSlant booth, an exhibition and auction to benefit Bushwick’s NurtureArt nonprofit, at last year’s Art Basel Miami Beach – and this show may prefigure the work in her upcoming solo exhibit at Atlantic Center for the Arts. As always, Culture & Cocktails offers other entertainments to augment the visual: This time around, enjoy the K Burgers gourmet food truck, popcorn from Enzian Theater, readings by the Maitland Poets & Writers crew, and the Chapman Stick and 14-string guitar stylings of Flint Blade.

– by  Jessica Bryce Young