Asheville Gallery of Art celebrates the start of 2015 with two back-to-back shows featuring six new artists.
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“New Kids on the Block” runs January 1 through January 31, 2015, and features the works of Suzanne Nelson, Marion Vidal, and Pamela Winkler. “Who New?” follows February 1 through February 28, with works by Jane Molinelli, Juditta Musette, and Elise Okrend.
All three artists featured in the January show, “New Kids on the Block,” paint in a representational style using oils and pastels. Suzanne Nelson’s paintings arise from a colorist tradition. She relishes the exploration of the effect of light on color, whether in the landscape, a still life, or on the figure.
Artist Marion Vidal was trained in the style of Classical Realism but her interests have progressed to exploring aspects of Impressionism. She says of her work, “I use the power and beauty of color, movement, and subject matter to create visual stories.”
Pastel artist, Pam Winkler, is drawn to the history of aging cars, doors, trains, signs, bottles, and many other items. In her work, she exaggerates lighting and contrast to bring depth to the objects and a theatrical sense often at odds with their common nature.
“Who New?” presents three artist with diverse styles ranging from expressive to abstract to realistic. Jane Molinelli, contemporary, expressive artist, uses color, line, and mark to convey an emotion, memory, or experience. In this way, she believes she can best communicate to the viewer using the universal visual language we all share.
Artist and musician, Juditta Musette, holds the heartfelt desire that each piece of art she creates is skillfully crafted while being infused with whimsy, irresistible insight, and delight. She says, “I am motivated to capture light and energy through textures and colors, while engaging with the mysteries of shadow feelings.” Elise Okrend, pastel artist, finds inspiration in her observations of the natural world. With a strong sense of light and an intense richness of color, Okrend says her intent is, “. . . to connect the viewer to a sense of healing and inner peace.”
“New Kids on the Block” will be on display at the Asheville Gallery of Art January 1-31. An opening reception takes place Friday, January 2, from 5-8 p.m.
“Who New?” runs February 1-28 with a reception on Friday, February 6, from 5-8 p.m. The featured artists’ works, and works by the other 25 gallery members, will be on display and for sale during regular winter hours, Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Asheville Gallery of Art is located at 16 College Street in downtown Asheville, across from Pritchard Park.
