(Martha’
s
Vineyard) Louisa Gould Gallery is pleased to announce the exhibit,
“
Summer
Essence
,”
featuring new works by
Jeffrey P’an, Ellen Liman, John Holladay, and Rachel Paxton. The
exhibit opens on August 4
and
runs through August 31. The opening reception will take place on
Saturday, August 6, from 5 – 8 pm. Please stop by to meet the
artists, enjoy light refreshments
,
and listen to live music by Wes Nagy.
This
exhibition includes works that reflect each artist’s interpretation
of the true essence of summer here on the Vineyard, especially as
August begins. Whether the artist lives here full-time like John
Holladay, part-time for Ellen Liman and Rachel Paxton
,
or as a frequent visitor,
like
Jeffery
P’an, the works capture the beauty of the island in the late
summer.
Jeffrey
P’an, a glass artist from Southington, CT, has a new body of work
of vases and sculptural forms where the colors within each work
suggest the rich colors of summer -- the bright pinks, oranges
,
and purples of local flowers, the blues and greens of the water, and
the intense blues of the skies. For each of his unique works, Jeff
strives to maintain the transparency so that the light may diffuse
the colors as it passes through. In Jeff’s work "
Egg Silver," the colors and patterns are fused together, creating a captivating visual display as can be found in each of his glass creations.
Ellen
Liman, a long-time summer
resident
of
Chilmark, has painted on the Vineyard for over twenty years. In her
new works,
as
“
Up-island
Shower
,
”
Ellen has captured the quintessential image of
past
summers
–
the outdoor shower. The canvases are bright, loosely painted images
that remind us of the carefree days of August and the ever popular
use of the outdoor shower here.
Liman's
landscapes come to life through a strong use of color and
brushstrokes; this series will delight all.
John
Holladay moved to the Island eleven years ago and says that “every
time I turn a corner or every time I return to a same place, I see
something new to paint.” As John describes, “the paintings in
this show reflect some of my hot spots for the summer and reflect the
summer colors of Martha’s Vineyard. My favorite time to paint is in
the mornings and mid-afternoon when there are great colors and
shadows.” In his paintings, "Aquinnah" and "Cape Poge," the works display his keen sense of color, attention to detail while capturing familiar spots, and clearly, his love for the Island.
Joining
this show is Rachel Paxton of Chilmark and Boston with her mixed
media assemblages, which represent memory, the passage of time
,
and
the cycle of life. As Rachel describes her work, “I hand
-
paint
birds, butterflies, flowers and berry branches on maps of the
Vineyard to create the keystone of my assemblages, which give the
essence of summer home life.” In Rachel’s work “
Pease
Point Butterfly,”
all
of these unique elements plus other materials like sheet music are
incorporated to create an intricately patterned and detailed image.
We
look forward to seeing you on Saturday, August 6, from 5 – 8 pm for
the opening of “
Summer
Essence”
and
throughout the show. The Louisa Gould Gallery is located at 54 Main
Street, Vineyard Haven. For more information or directions, please
call (508)693-7373
or visit the website at www.louisagould.com