As I was resting on a hot July day I answered the phone. It was an invitation to show my recent acrylic paintings at City Gallery, Pam Miller Downtown Art Center. This was after a good webinar with Jason Horejs of Xanadu Gallery. It was more compelling to rest than to research galleries who might like my art. So naturally, I accepted, because I had paintings on hand to assemble into a cohesive visual idea.
The show would include Marianna McDonald’s oil paintings. Next, we had to name our collaboration. So, what was the idea, all things considered? We decided on Summer Celebrations.
For me, “it is a collection of 16 paintings that honor the energy, color, and spirit of the season. Each work is a visual expression of long days, light, and the joy of gathering, wandering, and remembering. Rooted in abstraction yet inspired by landscapes, architecture, and the present moment, these paintings explore the rhythms of summer. Layers of color and shape evoke movement and warmth—inviting the viewer into realms of wonder where memory and imagination meet.”
Murmurations series
Sanctuary series
Marianna’s statement is: “Welcome to the world of “Summer Celebrations”. McDonald’s vibrant oil paintings of garden flowers show energetic brushstrokes and expressive color. Her 36” square oil paintings are not a literal depiction of garden flowers but an expression of the festive gala of summer gardens. “I want the viewer to feel enveloped by the colors, shapes and up-close focus of the flowers; to not just see flowers but feel their essence”.
One of Marianna’s oil paintings.
Together, the paintings celebrate summer, not just as a time of year, but as a state of mind—radiant, expansive, and alive.
City Gallery Summer Celebrations exhibit
The Gallery says; “Join us at the City Gallery at Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center in Lexington, KY, from August 7 to October 3, 2026, for an immersive exhibition entitled Summer Celebrations, featuring the evocative works of Kathleen O’Brien and oil paintings by Marianna McDonald. Located at 141 E. Main St. This vibrant showcase captures the spirit of summer both as a cherished time of year and as an expansive state of mind.”
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