Spirituality And Nature A Five-Artist Exhibition At The Meetinghouse In Ridgebury

Spirituality and Nature

A Five-Artist Exhibition at The Meetinghouse in Ridgebury

Sunday, December 5, 2021–Sunday, January 2, 2022

‘Evaluate and distinction…’ This acquainted lead-in to many a difficult examination query should still conjure up residual angst, even amongst these of us who’ve left highschool and faculty examination rooms far behind. In maturity, we could have come to acknowledge the tutorial energy and perception that evaluating and contrasting can supply. Usually the analysis is binary, involving simply two variations on a typical theme. However not all the time.

Following a collection of single-artist exhibits, the Meetinghouse in Ridgebury will shift gears for its December exhibition, aptly titled “Spirituality and Nature”. Underneath the supervision of the gallery curator and resident artist, Clarice Shirvell (www.clariceshirvellartist.weebly.com), the present will function 5 acclaimed native artists, every bringing her distinctive non secular imaginative and prescient of nature. The 5 visiting artists are: Jennie Carr (www.jenniecarr.com), Alice Hayes (www.facebook.com/alicehayesstudio), Nancy Moore (https://nancymooreartwork.com), Adele Moros (gallery25CT.com), and Kris Toohey (www.krisdavenporttoohey.com).

The works of those artists are various in many respects, creating in in their entirety an interesting eclectic mélange of line, curve, form and colour. Upon nearer look, nonetheless, the pertinent comparisons and contrasts grow to be obvious, and a extra cautious evaluation is feasible. 

It might be that extra will be realized from the variations than from the similarities among the many artists and their works, as variations render into sharp aid the vary of prospects in inspiration, topic, model, and method. For instance, the inspirational paths that led our 5 artists to converge on the Meetinghouse every had its distinctive options. Alice Hayes, Adele Moros, and Kris Toohey undertook years of in depth private and institutional coaching in the humanities, whereas Nancy Moore is proudly self-taught, and Jennie Carr grew up in a circus household the place she absorbed many parts of the artistic course of and a delightfully quirky humorousness.

The subject material of the varied works ranges from breathtaking landscapes (Toohey, Hayes, and Carr) to a surrealistic remodeling owl/human (Moore’s ‘Opsimath’), and a humorous picture of a sensible rooster and hen titled ‘The Wedding ceremony Portrait’ (Moros). Every artist should select whether or not or to not embody a human determine as a major topic or to maintain participation in the image restricted to the artist and viewer. Right here too, there are examples of every in the present. In describing her attribute depiction of human and animal figures in multimedia compositions, Nancy Moore says, “the seamless mixing of supplies displays my thought that humanity and nature ought to ideally perform on a seamless mutually sustaining continuum.”

The divergence in types of the 5 artists creates essentially the most vital edifying distinction of all. Of the landscapes for instance, Kris Toohey’s atmospheric ‘marshscapes’ seize the luminous essence of their topic so exactly, they could possibly be mistaken for magnificent images. In distinction, Jennie Carr’s haunting panorama images, equivalent to “North Salem,” are so wealthy with the temper of the second, they could possibly be confused with impressionistic work. Additional, Alice Hayes has developed her personal impressionistic model as seen in her “Paddling Peace”, whereas Nancy Moore and Adele Moros paint with excessive precision, which naturally fits the themes they select to painting.

Maybe essentially the most highly effective similarity that ties the exhibition collectively is the truth that each one of many 5 artists has been pushed to their present stage of excellence by a typical inspiration. I imagine that is finest summed up in the phrases of Adele Moros: “I paint these fast glimpses in time that so many people fail to see: the sweetness, the spirit, and the humor surrounding us all.”

In sum, the “Spirituality and Nature” exhibition gives a superb alternative to be taught and acquire insights into the works of 5 extremely completed native artists, which can be useful in viewing different artwork exhibitions in the longer term.  There isn’t any higher time to go to the present than at the Opening Reception from 12:00 to 4:00 P.M. on Sunday, December fifth,when it’s possible you’ll communicate with the artists and hear from them what comparisons and contrasts they’ll glean amongst their work and that of the opposite artists.

Whereas comparability and distinction don’t suggest competitors, the numerous permutations of 5 artists and at least 4 criteria–inspiration, topic, model, and technique–make it inevitable for every of us to be drawn instinctively to a number of favourite works. Figuring out the options of those favorites can present essential perception into the artwork, in addition to into ourselves and our distinctive sensibilities. It may also be a number of enjoyable.