‘Charade’ by Rainy Ferrell is among the more than 50 pieces of art by nearly 30 artists who took on the challenge of creating work to fit the theme of ‘Gray Matters’. Courtesy/Village Arts
View of some of the more than 50 pieces of art by nearly 30 artists who took on the challenge of creating work to fit the theme of ‘Gray Matters’. Courtesy/Village Arts
ART News:
Fire up those synaptic connections and head over to Village Arts for an exhibit that enters the gray area with skill and delicacy. After a colorful summer, Village Arts is marking the change of seasons with a more nuanced show of more than 50 pieces by nearly 30 artists who took on the challenge of creating work to fit the theme of Gray Matters.
Visitors have been commenting on the variety and creativity of the work that is on display through the end of September. Oftentimes overlooked media like Kathi Geoffrion Parker’s highly detailed graphite floral pieces and the intimate graphite and pastel landscapes of Diane Thurston take a turn in the spotlight with Gray Matters.
Winter scenes and familiar Northern New Mexico sights embrace a nostalgic tone through charcoal and graphite in works like “Eastern New Mexico Chapel” and “Coronation” by Ezra Estes.
Highlights also include scratchboard animal portraits like Phyllisha Hamrick’s meticulous “Two Bobcat Kittens” and Melissa Montoya’s whimsical pig “Barbara Jean”. Fred Jones stylized “Two Cats” and bold “Taos Inn” scratchboards and his “Isaac Hayes” tape portrait block out light and shadow in graphic shapes.
Working in shades of gray allows for artists to play with particularly fun tricks on the eye. Liz Aicher’s “Value Study” of a farmhouse scene and Janet Montoya’s “Whisper in White” show how monochromatic work can stress the shapes and forms of the subject matter and make it appear to practically pop off the page.
Conversely, Ann Greene’s “The Watcher” and “The Phantom of Nine Mile Island” and Cindy Boone’s “White Iris” all deftly nestle subject matter within environments that are close in tone to create surprises for a viewer and invite them to examine the work more closely.
Patterning, such as in Nancy Cope’s embroidered pieces, delicately creates the shapes and forms that often rely on color to differentiate them. Grey patterning structures Sue Ellen Hains’ “Lonely” collage, informs Helena Whyte’s embroidered “Lotus Blossom”, and anchors Olga Selene Moseley Martinez’s mixed media “Swimming Pool”.
Bonnie Binkert juxtaposes a grissaile girl from the past against a brightly patterned, floral rainbow to bring color into a grey world. Grey Matters seems to elevate artists working more abstractly like Jacci Gruninger’s “Be Brave” triptych, Eileen Patterson’s “In a Shady Place” painting, and Stephen Ledoux’s microphotography of gnarled tree patterns and frost crystals.
Because of the nature of this show, Village Arts is highlighting ways to become an activist in our broader community. Village Arts is partnering locally to donate art supplies to the Art Therapy Program at Pathways Homeless Shelter and will donate any commissions from this exhibit to Elizabeth House in Santa Fe, so there are myriad of fantastic reasons to support your local creative community!
Take a moment to pause and explore at Village Arts, cast your vote for the Viewer’s Choice Award, and be an active force in the broader community! Village Arts at 216 DP Road is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and by appointment.
Check out more about this local arts hub and how to become a part of their activities and exhibitions at www.villageartsframing.com or connect on social media!
View of some of the more than 50 pieces of art by nearly 30 artists who took on the challenge of creating work to fit the theme of ‘Gray Matters’. Courtesy/Village Arts