The reception last night for Horizon: Contemporary Landscape at Community Arts Center in Danville was packed, and I was happy to see artist friends whose art made it a fine exhibit. Not all were present, like Marianna McDonald, but I was able to capture a few good photos. Brandon Long, Program Director said, “The work has quite a diverse span of media, technique, and concepts – giving an incredible view of the current state of landscape art. We had more than enough artwork to fill the Arts Center’s Grand Hall and the exhibit overflows into the upstairs gallery.”
Ed Lawrence, “Anderson County, Ky. 09.28.2014” & me admiring his Third Place Award
I am so happy for long time friend Ed Lawrence‘s Third Place award for Anderson County, Ky. 09.28.2014. He recently retired from Kentucky Arts Council, where he supported artists for many years, to pursue his photographic career. His statement explains his stance so well:
“I hope that I will always be considered an emerging artist and a regional artist. Everyday is a learning process and everyday I am inspired by the beauty of Kentucky’s shaped and natural landscape. No matter what season, I find myself awestruck and overwhelmed by the painterly nature of my surroundings that translate into windows of visual perfection. I try to capture those magic moments of light and timelessness that inform the transcendental nature of my thought and reflect my sense of aesthetic. It is my mission to share with all that view my work, the universal beauty of this place that I call home.”
Nick Lacy with his photograph, “porchview”, with a glare from my flash, sorry!
Nick Lacy was telling me about his photograph, porchview. The white round glare is from my flash, and not a part of his beautiful piece. Seen in person, all the light areas have a mica-like sparkle. He explained it is the parking lot of Grace Cafe, the pay-what-you-can community restaurant run by his dear wife, Shelley. Nick, I meant to ask you, what is the white square? I first met Nick when he braved my bumpy gravely driveway on his motorcycle at the first Annual Open Studios ARTTOUR.
Fox Hutt with her “Unfurling October’s Promise” and I
Fox Hutt‘s Unfurling October’s Promise, is a gorgeous fiber wall hanging that is quilted with thousands of stitches along all the edges of the leaves. I am always inspired by how much she accomplishes with her ability to grow almost all of her family’s food. We’ve known each other for years, and have so much in common with our artful-homesteading lifestyles, integrating art, spirituality and love of earth. Her presentation here last May for Sunwise Celebrations was well attended. Many want to glean her extensive knowledge.
Hugs from Angela and Mark Selter, CAC director, Mary Beth Touchstone, and to the right, Mary Rezny, Juror of Horizon: Contemporary Landscape.
I was thrilled to see Angela and Mark Selter show up from Lebanon. They are both extraordinary artists, who belong in this annual show, next year. Angela works at the Marion County Public Library, who is hosting Tibetan Monks who will do a sand painting for a second year in November. Behind us is Mary Beth Touchstone, director of the CAC. I wish I had a better photo her and also of Mary Rezny, Juror, pictured to the right in front of Letitia Quesenberry’s luminous union of opposites 3c. Her Juror’s Statement is thoughtful:
“While selecting from the many excellent submissions I looked for artwork that would enrich our understanding of the landscape and our visual world. I discovered that artists who would enlighten our perception used both traditional and non-traditional techniques. The motivation could be informative as with Kenneth Hayden’s painting “Chickasaw Park Lotus: a Memoriam for Nimrud” or Jason Stout’s charcoal drawing “Tempest Brewing”. Or the motivation could be more of an introspective reflection as with the paintings of John Daniel McGrath, Helen Powell and Karen Spears. Other artists deconstructed the landscape to simple, bold graphic forms and color as show in the relief by Letitia Quesenberry and sculptures by Norman Silva and Steve Heine.
I looked for a range of approaches and materials that mirrored the visual complexity of the landscape. I was moved as how the use of materials beckons the viewer into the landscape. Mixed media artists Jorge Luis Bernal and Kathleen O’Brien each use layered techniques with their materials to direct our attention. Photographer Cathy Leaycraft photographs through a glass sphere to create her vision.
Another broad theme was how artists capture the patterns and texture within the landscape. Laura Terry’s abstracted mixed media landscape, “View from Afar”, clearly demonstrates this as she juxtaposition scales, textures and forms. There are several other examples in the photography by Nick Lacy and the paintings by Billy Hertz and David Farmer along with many of the fiber artists.
And finally I selected artists who use pattern and form to create order in the chaos of the landscape. This is illustrated in the applied grids by painters Amin Muhsam and Marta Mazur, and photographer Jessica Holly. It is inferred in the works of photographer Ed Lawrence, and fiber artist Marti Plager.
With limited gallery space my decision was to include only one artwork by each selected artist so that a broad and varied interpretation of the contemporary landscape would be on view.
Thanks to the Danville Community Arts Center for sharing my voice.” Mary Rezny
For your convenience (and curiosity) there is an online gallery of the exhibition on CAC website.
Laura Sullivan and Me, also Mary Rezny and Ed Lawrence
It was special to see Laura Sullivan, a wonderful painter and patron saint of wounded 4-legged and winged creatures. She has worked tirelessly on behalf of the Mercer County Arts Council Gallery in Harrodsburg.
Above, “Curve of the Earth, Birth of Thunder”, Kathleen O’Brien, below, “Schwellenwerte”, Armin Muhsam
I loved how Brandon hung my Curve of the Earth, Birth of Thunder with Schwellenwerte by Armin Muhsam. Although I did not meet him, he’s from Missouri, I felt akin with his statement:
“My work revolves around the found object, which is then subjected to various processes of transformation involving painting/drawing and collage. I consider this process as a form of alchemy. More often than not, my compositions are the product of chance configurations of found objects lying on my studio floor, but I always maintain control over the final version. The tension between the composed shapes and factually? real? shapes is the result of the playful manner in which I investigate the detritus of our everyday lives.”
You have till November 15 to see this exhibit, which is will be open for the Annual Open Studios ARTTOUR, #8 on the map.