Art Colors Life

Botanical and travel paintings by Chris Graebner, vibrant acrylic landscape paintings by Marcy Lansman, needle felted figurative sculpture by Lynn Wartski. In the gallery July 22^nd through August 24^th. Opening reception during Hillsborough’s Last Friday Art Walk, July 25^th, 6-9pm.

The title of this show, ”Art Colors Life,” is taken from Chris Graebner’s favorite quote about art. Sir John Lubbock writes in his book, The Pleasures of Life, that “Art is unquestionably one of the purest and highest elements in human happiness. It trains the mind through the eye, and the eye through the mind.  As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life.”

Graebner often paints from photos taken while traveling. Because she’s not traveling very much these days, she spent several weeks this winter going through thousands of photos taken over the last twenty years, pulling out the ones that called to her. Graebner says her photos are not great, as they are often taken from a moving vehicle, through streaky windows. However they return her to a time and place where something struck her that she wanted to remember – perhaps the way a plant really looks up close, maybe the way ripples from a cat’s tongue make their way across a pool of water, or maybe the angles and colors of rooftops – something in particular that she wanted to remember. Though an oil painter, Graebner likes to add other mediums such as cold wax, graphite or oil-based inks; often using acrylics to provide the base color of her paintings.

Lynn Wartski has also drawn inspiration from John Lubbock’s quote. Lubbock draws a reciprocal relationship between the mind and the eye and this year she’s noticed something similar with the last phrase, that life can color art as well. Her felt sculptures usually evoke a sense of whimsy or humor, but lighthearted joy-sparking art has been a challenge lately, and  Wartski has found herself bouncing between the widely different aims of wanting to say more, or just letting herself play. She decided to just let the work go where it wants to go. One piece may be a little more serious, the next a pure flight of fancy.  “Winged Liberty Rises” is a piece that comments on current events and endeavors to express hope. The figure is a felted representation of a marble statue that has been knocked down and a little bit bloodied but possesses the determination and strength to pull itself up.  “Love Is Nurtured” is a joyful piece depicting a mother and baby giraffe. The two figures stand with foreheads touching and eyes closed. The mother’s long neck is bent down touching the young one. The giraffe’s distinctive pattern morphs from back to front into a stylized floral pattern that appears to pass from mother to baby. Wartski’s sculptures are created by needle felting wool fiber over a wire and batting armature.

Painter Marcy Lansman is excited by color in her landscapes. Using areas of bright color on the canvas to create a base, and using a palette knife to create an overpainting on top, she lets bits of the underpainting peak through. For this show she’s used a wider color palette. For example, her painting “Behind the Dunes” depicts the dramatically curving trees that grow just inland of the dunes on our North Carolina islands. In the painting the leaves vary from deep blue to a very pale white/yellow, and Lansman finds that the wider the variety of colors, the more vibrant the painting. Asked if she paints plein air, Lansman says she visits the site and takes many, many photos, then uses the photos as inspiration for the painting.

Come join us on July 25^th from 6-9pm, during Hillsborough’s Last Friday Art Walk for the opening reception and see the art inspired by the quote “Art Colors Life.” Enjoy old time country renditions by the Lars Barbary Trio on our patio

If you’d like a chance to meet these artists and hear about their inspiration and process, their Artist Talk will be held in the gallery on Saturday, August 9th at 4pm.

About the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts:

The Hillsborough Gallery of Arts is owned and operated by 20 local artists and represents these established artists exhibiting contemporary fine art and fine craft. The Gallery’s offerings include oil, acrylic and watercolor painting, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, glass, scratchboard, fiber art, and handcrafted furniture. 121 N. Churton Street, Hillsborough, NC 27278. Phone: (919) 732-5001. The gallery is open 10am-6pm Monday – Saturday, and 12pm-4pm on Sunday. More information can be found on the HGA website: http://www.HillsboroughGallery.com