PORTSMOUTH – Opening Friday, August 5, from 5-8pm, in the Gallery at 3S Artspace, Keeping Track of Time, will feature ink wash drawings and watercolor paintings by Philip Brou. The artist will be in attendance and give a brief talk at 7 p.m.

Philip Brou is an artist and amateur runner. He said that running every other day for much of his life has served as both exercise and a meditative practice. He views this project as a type of clock that processes days by both running and slowing down, creating a very specific way of keeping track of time.

“Philip brings the ‘drawing a day’ trend to a new level,” said Beth Falconer, Executive Director of 3S Artspace. “His work in Keeping Track of Time resonates with our shared experience of pandemic isolation, ever-changing restrictions, and the need to process our new realities.”

During 2021, Brou brought his running and studio practice together by making an ink wash drawing documenting each time he went running. There are a total of 197-drawings that record places momentarily encountered while on the move.

“This project developed out of necessity. So many things were happening at the beginning of 2021. Everything felt fragmented and I, like many, was full of anxiety and fear. The routine of running one day and drawing the next created a much needed sense of continuity,” Brou said.

The locations he observes and chooses to depict are more utilitarian than picturesque — parking lots, views of the road, public boat launches.

“These seemingly innocuous scenes experienced on daily runs remind us all to take the time to observe and reflect. Viewed all together, the impact of these drawings is profound,” said Beth Falconer.

Philip Brou said, “These humble and typically overlooked locations bring attention to temporal subject matter such as weather, time of day, and seasonal change. They are executed in an amount of time approximately equal to the time it takes me to go running.”

Brou said the drawings began as a studio exercise that no one would ever see.

“It was just a way to stay grounded, but then I started to see things emerging as I continued to pin up each day’s work,” said Brou. “I was interested in the ways they marked individual days and then worked collectively to track time. I also realized my practice as an amateur runner was layered with so many interesting processes and metaphors.”

“Both running and drawing are meditative, but in different ways. When running, I think about breathing, pace, and just trying to make sure I don’t trip over things on the ground. There is a sense of calm runners experience when your body is 100% engaged in the processes required to keep going. The drawings, on the other hand, are quite small and I’m relatively imobile while making them. This creates a more psychological and less physical space to work. I’m interested in the reciprocity between these two practices- they complement one another,” said Brou.

Viewers to the exhibit might note the flow of time throughout the year and follow along as shifts in seasons unfurl.

“This is one of the many rhythms that structures the installation of all 197-works,” said Brou. “As markers of days, the drawings are embedded in their historical moment. This doesn’t happen in an overt way, but I still hope viewers make connections between the drawings and significant personal, cultural, and societal contexts that impact their lives.

Brou said, “Some of my favorite runs happen during adverse weather conditions. This might be while it is raining, during a snowstorm, or running in the dark due to the short days we experience during Maine winters. There is something life affirming about going out when you know you will get soaked, need a headlamp to see, or have to become familiar with the routes of snow plows to avoid icy roads.”

Exhibits at 3S are always free and open to the public, and can also be viewed virtually at galleryat3s.org. Through the unique lens of contemporary arts experiences, 3S Artspace invites divergent perspectives and encourages lively discourse centered around issues of today.

The artist will return to 3S Artspace on September 25th to lead a 3-hour workshop introducing tools and techniques involved in ink drawing for beginner through intermediate level artists.

“We’re so excited to offer more workshops at 3S for the Seacoast community with our exhibiting artists, and more opportunities to explore their own creativity at 3S in the coming years,” said Beth Falconer.