A large throng spilled out of the Quint Gallery into the alleyway at 7739 Drury Lane in La Jolla on March 19. The occasion was the opening of an installation or series of light sculptures by internationally-renowned artist Robert Irwin (b.1928) called “Works in Progress.” Irwin, a proponent of the “Light & Space” School of Art & Architecture, had installed five sets of long, colored neon or fluorescent lights vertically upon the walls of the gallery. A very hip and beautiful crowd mingled and conversed in the glow of colored lights of the display which bathed each room of the gallery in a different hue and feeling set. At first it did not seem like there was much to see art-wise but people were slowly reacting to the lighting effects. Louis Chavez, a security guard remarked, “I am just an average Joe … the lights bring me warmth and clarity, and bring a feeling of completion to myself.” Irwin is considered to be a master of subtlety and it takes a while to understand what he is doing with his work. “At first I wasn’t able to pay much attention to the lights but after a while of looking and talking to people I was able to look at the lights differently and realize that each piece reflects on the others,” said Clare He, a viewer who was originally from Mainland China. Admittedly, with all the attractive people on hand, it was easier for the eyes to be directed to people-watching rather than contemplating the artwork. Brian Dick, a local community college art teacher captured it well when he said, “Robert Irwin is all about ‘light and space,’ so all the people here negate the experience somewhat.” Irwin was on hand for the event, wearing blue jeans, black windbreaker, tennis shoes and baseball cap. In addition to being an artist, Irwin is considered to be a “philosopher of seeing.” His maxim: “Seeing is savoring.” “I am trying to get people to perceive how they perceive … my strength is that I have spent a lot of time working with my perceptual understanding,” Irwin explained. “To be an artist is not a matter of making paintings or objects — what we are really dealing with is the state of our consciousness and the shape of our perception,” he explained. Irwin’s presence and his artwork seem to have the ability to transform people. Irwin’s assistant, Joey Huppert, said that working with Irwin has, “led to a paradigm shift for me. Because Mr. Irwin has such heightened sensibilities it has changed and modified the nuances of all my sensibilities … I see and experience everything differently now.” Irwin’s show will rotate installation pieces every two weeks and lasts until May 1. Rather than popping in for a short peak, allow enough time to contemplate the exhibit and permit the subtleties to effect you.