The period between dusk and dawn and all that it conjures is the inspiration for Nocturne, the first exhibit of 2022 at The Art League Gallery. This diverse collection of artworks—drawings, paintings, print-works, photography, sculpture, and ceramics—capture the various ways in which after-hours occur. There are darkened landscapes and starry vistas that speak to the quiet stillness of night; cityscapes buzzing with activity; night creatures—both human and animal—in repose, restless, or on the prowl; hazy dreamscapes ; and abstract works connected to night by color, scheme, narrative, or emotive power. Nocturne was juried by award-winning children’s book illustrator and fine artist Becca Stadtlander, and is on view through January 30.
Strong atmospheric impressions which can suggest an other-worldly quality, time, or place are often a central pillar in Justin T. Worrell’s art. He says that for his his Best-in-Show Award-winning painting Dream Awake (above), “At some point during the creation of this particular image, I began to recall a quote by Thoreau when he said, ‘Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake.’ It was an uncommon instance where painting and prose merged into something new, perhaps elevated into something akin to art.”
“This painting was based on an iPhone photograph I took driving back on 95 from Richmond, ” says Honorable Mention awardee Rachel Garcia-Palmer. “The sky that evening was phenomenal. Sunset at 95 began with a notan in acrylic to block in the lights and darks on the canvas. Subsequent paint layers and glazes were applied using oil.”
“I was inspired by the sight of a ploughman and his draft horse cutting furrows into his tiny plot before the towering Andes,” Stu Searles says about his honorable mention painting Foothills of the Andes. “I imagined him under snow-covered mountains and crystalline-clear starry skies visible most nights in Purmamarca, Jujuy, Argentina. I took photos. I painted a night sky with mountains and collaged my subject onto the canvas. I reworked the piece many times and only recently got it to my satisfaction by painting over the man, horse, and traces to give the small shapes prominence. I added gold-flake mica medium to the sky to pick it up.”
“As an artist I draw my inspiration from my imagination and my dreams. I’ve spent a lifetime attending to my dreams to find greater self-understanding, as well as inspiration for my images,” says honorable mention awardee David Mosher. In Memories, we experience the groggy state of awakening from a dream and remembering impressions of scenes from our dreams the night before. In these scenes, images are juxtaposed in ways that can only exist in the irrational subconscious mind.”
Who doesn’t need a dose of happiness in these uncertain times. Make Me Happy, at Falls Church Arts Gallery, is a delightful exhibit of all-media artworks that elicit joy, bring a smile, and lift the spirit. It is on view through January 30, 700-B W. Broad St. (Rte. 7), Falls Church, VA. You can also view it online.
BlackRock Center for the Arts presents Juxtapositions, the elegant mixed media installations and assemblage sculptures of Washington, DC based artist, Tory Cowles, An opening reception including live performances will be held on Sunday January 16. A video interaction of Tory Cowles art with improvisational dance from Citydance Conservatory students will be shown for the duration of the exhibit. This collaboration between Cowles, CityDance, and BlackRock Center for the Arts will culminate into a short video, which will be released in parts to the public over the course of the exhibition and in its entirety during an invitational closing reception, February 26, 2022; 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown, MD.
To expand the public’s understanding of the significance of Willem de Looper’s contribution to the Washington Color School, HEMPHILL has partnered with the Frauke and Willem de Looper Foundation to present Willem de Looper: Paintings 1968 – 1972, a showcase of eleven paintings. It is on view through February 26; 434 K Street NW. You can also view it online here.
The Patrons’ Show, our biggest fundraiser of the year, is just around the corner! It’s an excellent opportunity to acquire high-quality, original fine art at a bargain price while supporting a great non-profit organization and community of artists. In light of continuing restrictions surrounding COVID, we’re keeping a virtual format so nobody misses out on this perennial favorite. Don’t miss out! Learn more about The Patrons’ Show and purchase tickets here.
Stay warm and enjoy the long weekend!
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