Design master returns to Barrio Logan

Prolific designer Paul Basile has transformed the San Diego restaurant scene with inventive spaces and a groundbreaking aesthetic.

His innovative use of vintage objects and reclaimed wood, his juxtaposition of seemingly disparate items, and his use of postmodern repetition have captured the eyes of locals and those around the country.

From the gold skulls of Noble Experiment to the suitcases and fish heads at Ironside Fish & Oyster, Basile is synonymous not only with Consortium Holdings restaurants but the design scene at large.

Basile teamed up with local contemporary artist Chris Martino to open basileIE, an art and design studio in Barrio Logan. Located across from Chicano Park, the space is part of a 6,000-square-foot mixed-use building, BLDG (Barrio Logan Design Guild), which Basile also designed. Martino will curate basileIE along with his own adjacent gallery and art services firm CM Curatorial.

After owning Basile Gallery in East Village for 12 years, he returns to Barrio Logan 10 years after opening an eatery there, Guild Restaurant.

“Now is the time for Barrio Logan,” Basile said. “It’s on the precipice of becoming one of the nation’s most alluring arts and culture districts -- there is so much talent here.”

He said he had been anticipating a return to Barrio Logan, and basileIE will feature some of San Diego’s undiscovered and underrepresented artists.

“This project will also be an outlet for me and my team to showcase our creative impulses outside our daily studio work,” he said.

BasileIE will feature 3D, sculpture and “not on wall” objects and experiences, while CM Curatorial will focus on rising Mexican artists and guest curation.

A portion of proceeds from their first exhibit, titled “Dictators Rule!,” were donated to Equality Florida Pulse Victims Fund, in response to the Orlando shooting tragedy.

Current and upcoming exhibitions at basileIE and CM Curatorial include:

Through Aug. 7

basileIE: Rare Specimens, Matt Stallings. God’s own prototypes. Evolutionary experiments not intended for mass production.

CM Curatorial: Strange Calculus, Matt Forderer. The imagined worlds of San Diego artist Forderer.

Aug. 13 - Sept. 4

basileIE: Outside the Box, Basile Studio employees. Art, objects and creations from the employees at Basile Studio.

CM Curatorial: Southern Exposure v.1, Pablo Llana and Stephanie Bell May. Ongoing series featuring Tijuana/Baja contemporary artists. CMC partnership with La Caja Gallery.

BasileIE is located at 2070 Logan Ave. in Barrio Logan. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and by appointment. For more information, visit basile-ie.com.

Laurie Delk is an avid art historian, holding a master’s degree in Art History, with concentrations in the Modern and Postmodern movements. She has taught classes at Tulane University, and has been published with several art publications including Sculpture Magazine and New Orleans Art Review. Send ideas for art stories to lauriedelk101@gmail.com.

Source: DiscoverSD