Brotherness is a word local artist Milan Basic uses to describe community - and he's been thinking a lot about the term lately while giving back to the community.
Brotherness is also Basic's latest art exhibit, which graces the Groop Gallery, 1127 Third Avenue, starting tonight at 7 p.m.
The Brotherness exhibit gathers 30 paintings and 30 concrete blocks in a series depicting the connectedness everyone in the community shares, said Basic.
"A friend came up with the word and I borrowed it. Community needs to be pushed to the next level. We have brotherly love and I know small groups of people band together for the common good or to achieve a common goal."
Now we need to open that up to encompass more people, Basic added.
"If we all have a bit of brotherness the world would be a better place. Men have dominated society for a long time. It's a patriarchal society. Instead of ruling let's do something more loving and come together. That's what the exhibit is about. I decided to make something beautiful and connected."
The Brotherness exhibit is also a prelude to an exhibit to be held at the Two Rivers Gallery next month called Better Times, which also depicts connectedness.
New public art in the way of murals are most likely largely due to Basic's talents. The artist moved to town about a year and a half ago to be near his family, and since then, residents have been able to see his work in progress, called Tagging Is Just A Waste of Good Paint, at the Community Arts Council at 2880 15th Avenue.
Basic has two children, Audrey ,9, and Niko, 7. He followed his children to Prince George when they moved here with their mother.
"I define myself as a father first, an artist second," said Basic, whose affection and pride for his children is obvious.
The kids will have a lemonade stand set up at the gallery opening to raise funds for the people who are suffering from the drought in East Africa.
"That's what we need to do," said Basic, who has a tattoo on his right palm of an image Audrey drew. He then raises his left palm indicating where Niko's artwork will go soon.
"We have to make sure the children are connected to the world and learn to be proactive to better the world."
Basic, who shows his work all over the country in high end galleries, said this exhibit is for those who wish to invest in art without breaking the bank.
"This show was created for those people interested in my work and this will make it more accessible to them," he concluded.
The opening is tonight at 7 p.m. at Groop Gallery, 1127 Third Avenue. The exhibit will be held until the end of October.
