I journeyed to Salisbury on Saturday night Oct. 7th, 2023 to finally meet my TikTok artist friend Michael “Mike” Ploplis at his reception and support his second solo abstract art show at Rail Walk Studios & Gallery at 409 N. Lee Street Salisbury, NC 28144.
Immediately I was greeted with a lot of guests, appetizers and drinks, including refreshing water served to me by his son.
As I found out, Mike’s art is loved by people who don’t necessarily care about abstract art. I admit in the past I have not given abstract art the respect it deserved. However, after seeing his processes over the last few years on TikTok, hearing him tell his stories about the how and the why, seeing him raise funds for charity and others in need, and particularly seeing his art in person and meeting him, you will have great deal of appreciation. As Mike says, “It ain’t rocket science,” but the way Mike approaches his business is smart, meticulous, funny, modest, and serious all at once.
For this show, some of his paintings are wrapped around the interior gallery walls in a spiral layout, with most of his art electrified with color, some muted, some with figurative designs and others more abstract with just lines, squiggles and shapes. All of his paintings have a certain “life” about them, which reflects the work he puts in through a typically lengthy process with different types of mediums and surfaces for each including acrylic, enamel, spray paint, canvas, linen and metal. Each painting is very unique as Mike experiments pretty regularly.
As I walked further back, I saw a dark room lit up by a black light with Mike explaining his concepts and processes to a group of patrons surrounded by glowing art. He did a great job of talking with everyone, sometimes on an individual basis. There is a high-level of detail and time that he put into this show installation, and it was super organized with a detailed art inventory book that includes descriptions, prices, and QR scan codes to his website.
It was great to meet the other guests, and many were friends and family of his who described a person of great compassion and care for others. I’ve already known this, but it was magnified in the stories that were told that night. A former flight paramedic, Mike has seen a few things. Art has helped him deal with the emotional toll.
A highlight of the night was when guests signed his jeans with permanent red marker. Some of us declined to sign his butt as suggested. His humor is also reflected in the art descriptions and interesting, sometimes amusing art titles.
Ploplis puts 120% into his work. If you buy a painting from him, he may even install it for you. This RED-iculous abstract art show is simply alive with an organic, radioactive energy. Come see the show for yourself at Rail Walk Studios & Gallery, 409 Lee St. in Salisbury, NC every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m through November 11th, 2023. His art makes a one-of-a-kind gift and statement piece for that room where you want something bright and interesting, or even glowing. He also has mugs, puzzles and other items you can buy. For more, visit https://www.artbyploplis.com/
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