Showing posts with label sculpture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sculpture. Show all posts

Monday, March 21, 2011

Blue Heron Gallery


Sundress
Original oil painting 28x22"
by Susan Roux

Think sunshine, warm sand, long beaches and vacation. People strolling about relaxed and smiling. Tank tops, flip flops, shorts and ponytails. The smell of salty air.

Think Cape Cod.

Have you ever been? It's a wonderful peninsula, shaped like an arm if you're showing your muscle.


Locals here refer to their locations by using body parts. For example, Orleans is located on the inside of the elbow while Chatham is on the outside of the elbow. Truro is the wrist, Provincetown or P-town as it's known are the fingers, and Falmouth is the armpit. Ask for directions on the Cape and these are the words you'll hear. It's pretty self explanatory and with a single highway running to the tip, finding your way isn't very difficult.

Blue Heron Gallery is located halfway between the inner elbow and the wrist in the lovely town of Wellfleet. People come to Wellfleet for the art. It has many art galleries all within walking distance. Aside from these it's also known for it's oysters. I've been very fortunate to be represented at this fine gallery for years now. The owner, Roy Thurston III, is a wonderful kind man and will happily greet you as you enter. He loves art. He loves the female form and his walls are hung with beautiful amazing pieces of art. You'll also find swirling sculptures, chiseled sculptures, tiny sculptures and whimsical sculptures. Beautiful colored glass pieces sitting on pedestals are placed to capture your eye and enhance the art. The whole experience of walking through this well known gallery is exhilarating to say the least.

The gallery sits behind a lovely perennial garden, center-pieced by a sculpted female with water trickling down her body. You'll walk among the flowers on a brick-laid walkway that leads to the front door. The garden stroll is just a hint of what lies inside. You'll be surprised by it's size. There you'll find a series of rooms on two floors and well placed art that pulls you through the space. Each time you turn another spectacular piece catches your eye in the distance and soon you're drawn further into the maze exploring every inch of the gallery. It's so easy to get lost in the art. At times you may even get lost in the gallery!

Delivery time is approaching. Blue Heron is a seasonal gallery and April is when all the art arrives. Roy is an amazing curator and in a week's time he'll have the empty walls dazzling. I'm looking forward to another season and the opportunity to have my latest series of females out in view for the public. So if you find yourself on the Cape this summer, remember Wellfleet is between the inner elbow and the wrist. Do stop by and let me know what you think.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Svetlana Beattie


New Woman
Original oil painting
by Svetlana Beattie


Sometimes we create similarities without ever realizing it. Its not until someone else points it out, that we see it. Its interesting how we do that. Our minds work in a certain way so it might be inevitable for this to happen. After all, it is all our work.

This is just what happened to Svetlana Beattie.

She sent me several images of her paintings last night, which she'll be exhibiting soon. Within her diverse body of work, the two images posted jumped out at me.


Snack
Original oil painting
by Svetlana Beattie

Two completely different paintings, one classical and the other modern, bore a striking resemblance. We were on the phone when she sent the images. I chuckled when I saw them. The Madonna and Child was transformed into Lady and Dog. She hadn't noticed how similar they were...

Svetlana is an art student at the University. She explained that "New Woman" was an assignment while "Snack" was not. She did remember that the two works were painted around the same time. Its interesting that the similarity never hit her. Even down to the aura. One yellow. One blue.

She had a wonderful story about "New Woman". It wasn't the Madonna. It represented all women whose faces must be covered from society. In her arms, sits her child. She's female. A new kind of female. One who will break the rules. She is comfortable and at peace in her mother's arms, but tugs at the garment which conceals her. She is the "New Woman". The one who will refuse to wrap her face.

In the distance, within the red space, are many other women covered with garments. All those who've passed before her, in confinement. Her mission, her purpose is set. Like the child Jesus, she too will change the world.

Interestingly, a mother looks at her child in her arms, yet the female who posed with her dog, looks at the artist...

Svetlana will be exhibiting at City Hall in Augusta, Maine starting February 14. Her exhibit will highlight her evolution through two and a half years of study. It will be an eclectic selection ranging from drawings, paintings and sculpture. Its a unique opportunity to see, how through professors' challenge of trying different styles, an artist develops and finds one's self.

Best of luck, Svetlana!