Gallery: Let your heart guide your art collecting
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"I buy based on emotion, because I am fascinated with an object that I simply cannot live without."
Michael Audain, art collector and philanthropist
A significant and important art collector from British Columbia, Mr. Audain's declaration is music to an artist's ears.
It dispels the myth that to be valuable, a work of art must have been created by someone whose name is on the lips of everyone who is anyone among the "art elite", and must be accompanied by an astronomical price tag.
We all have different reasons for buying art, because we have distinctive values and aesthetic tastes. But it is freeing to be released from the anxious internal voice that sometimes accompanies a substantial purchase: "Is it good enough? Is it worth the money? Will it increase in value?" Putting oneself through that mental torture is not fun. And if there is one blanket truth about collecting art, it is this: it should be enjoyable! Here's the critical question to ask yourself: "Do I love it?" If the answer is yes, then you are likely to always feel good about your decision.
Some new collectors worry that they don't know enough about art to know whether or not the artist actually knows what they are doing; they don't want to buy an inferior work. The good news is that we live in a community with a sophisticated art scene, so we can rest assured that the quality of art is a given. Work on display in the Annapolis galleries and restaurants are curated; plein air painters at the 14th Annual Paint Annapolis have been selected from as far away as Ireland because they are the best of the best; artists and crafters at First Sunday (which is today!) are there because they have credibility with their patrons and they experience continued success selling their work.
This next six to eight weeks is a unique window for starting or adding to your collection. There are a variety of exhibits that relate stories through visual chronicling about the history of Annapolis, visits to Cuba and travels abroad; then back home again in a new book by one of our top local fine art photographers. Several exhibits are deep and meaningful explorations of the human condition. Create your own story: Watch the world-class plein air painters create something you love right before your eyes, and then buy it - that very week. You now have a memory of the artist and the experience – a delightful story to share and treasure every time to look at your painting.
Let your heart be your guide… go out and love art!
McBride Gallery presents a 16-artist exhibit, "Cuba Today: Studies to Studio" opening today and running to June 26. The show is based on an historic trip to Havana, Cuba in February. B. Eric Rhoads, the editor of PleinAir Magazine, led 100 American painters to Havana to paint this city that was isolated beginning in the 1950's from travelers and influence of the outside world. The show is called "Cuba Today" because, with the opening of travel to Cuba, change is inevitable. This group of artists from across this country has recorded for posterity scenes of life in Cuba today.
"From Studies to Studio" is the process of artists using field studies completed on location, also called painting en plein air to create larger, more complex paintings in their studios. The artists will share some of their field studies, displayed next to their studio paintings. Participating Artists:¿Janet Anderson, Bruce Bingham, Brenda Boylan, Carl Dalio, Lisa Egeli, Steven Hill, Hai-Ou Hou, Charlie Hunter, Shelby Keefe, Nancie King Mertz, Larry Moore, Anette Power, Scott Prior, B. Eric Rhoads, Richard Sneary, and Carol Lee Thompson.
Meet the Artists Reception: 1 to 4 p.m. today. At the Panel Discussion at 2 p.m., they will share their painting process, the challenges of travel to Cuba and some of their unique experiences with the people. Audience participation is always welcome.
On view at Annapolis Collection Gallery: A new exhibition by sculptor Burton Blistein, titled "Endgame: Sculptures in Bronze", is an evolving narrative on existence. This show of 14 bronze sculptures, with a few preparatory sketches, is an ambitious endeavor in a town whose patrons more often prefer images of sailboats, crabs, and "Natty Boh." Each piece has its own voice with the push-pull tension of despair and hope, destiny and death, want and rejection, angst with determination. Where one starts and ends is all interwoven. The exhibit runs through May 31. Meet the sculptor from 1 to 2 p.m. May 8.
The BayWoods Community has added an Annapolis Watercolor Club exhibition to their Art Gallery beginning on May 8 running through July 5. The Artists Reception, open to the public, will start at 2 pm, May 8 with music, refreshments, and introductions of the artists.
Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts will mount a major exhibition on the art of Trumpy Yachts in its Chaney and Martino Galleries, May 12 through July 15. "A Single Goal: The Art of Trumpy Yacht Building" will trace the design and construction of these distinctive wooden yachts from 1909 through 1973, when the Trumpy Yacht Yard in Annapolis, MD (Eastport) produced its last boat. The exhibit will open to the public with a free opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 12. Using models, paintings, historic photographs, artifacts, vintage signage and original drawings by naval architect and yacht designer John Trumpy, Sr., the exhibit will bring the boat-building process to life as it documents the artistry of Trumpy Yachts, illustrating how these wooden vessels were custom-designed and constructed. In conjunction with the exhibit, Maryland Hall will offer a series of lectures and educational programs.
Main St. Gallery will be holding a show featuring works by Ron Boehmer, Margaret Lee and Becky Parrish. The Show will run from May 11 to June 5 with an Opening Reception to meet the artists on Saturday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 14.
Gallery 333 opens a show entitled "Varicolored Brush-Up" by Carolyn Councell for the months of May and June. Carolyn uses dynamic brushstrokes to explore a variety of subjects, pushing for a joyous range of color in oils, acrylics, watercolor and mixed media. She will include fifteen miniature works in the showcase and another 35 larger works in the gallery. Meet the artist from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. May 15.
MFA has a busy month. The Circle Gallery has two exhibits:
•The annual "Spring Member Show" opens in the Main Gallery on Thursday and runs through May 27. The exhibit features diverse artwork of all medias created by MFA Members and was juried by Crystal Moll of Crystal Moll Gallery in Federal Hill.
•The Holley Gallery presents "Immigrants", a solo exhibition by local artist James Francis Hollan, featuring 2D and 3D artwork using "mixed media to explore the daring and courage of immigrants." The exhibit opens Wednesday and runs through May 18. Receptions for both exhibits are from 3 to 5 p.m. May 15.
MFA hosts "Paint Annapolis" beginning May 30. This annual event brings juried plein air painters from around the world to Annapolis. Spectators are welcome, and will see these exceptional artists painting throughout the county and city through June 12. Now in it's 14th year, Paint Annapolis is a multi-featured event which combines painting by juried artists, three paint-outs open to all artists – Dueling Brushes, Nocturne and xxx - and a fabulous reception held from 6 to 8 p.m. June 4 to reveal the artwork to the general public. Artwork created May 30-June 5 will be on display from June 5-12 at MFA Circle Gallery and MFA's Summer Annex at 53 Maryland Avenue.
Celebrate May and all that is Annapolis at Lisa Masson Studio Gallery! Award-winning photographer Lisa Masson's new exhibit features beautiful photographs of Annapolis and the surrounding area from her just released coffee table book "Annapolis - A Photographic Portrait". Lisa dedicated an entire year to capturing her hometown in photographs from the land, on the bay and in the air. Her efforts resulted in a book that contains nearly 200 images of exceptional quality and views never seen before via her camera lens. Be sure not to miss her new exhibit and book signing from 1 to 5 p.m. May 22.
Paul's Homewood Café continues the MFA solo exhibit of Annapolis based photograph, Lisa Rath through June 5. Through a partnership with Paul's Homewood Café on West Street, artwork by MFA members will be on display in the dining rooms at Paul's. This exhibition features artwork by Annapolis based photographer Lisa Rath.
Benfield Gallery's Colorist show was such a hit, that they continue to display selected works from the exhibit as well as new works by the Gallery's artists through the end of the month, while preparing their June exhibit that will honor Lee Boynton's influence on many regional painters.
The Galleries at Quiet Waters Park continues their exhibits through May 22. In the Willow Gallery is "Whimsey Gone Wild", a sculpture exhibit Ken Beerbohm who use his knowledge of and experience with plastics and other materials to build sculptures intended to "Induce laughter or reflection on the human condition." The Garden Gallery displays the whimsical exhibit, "Barnyard", which include oil and conté crayon paintings by Terry Coker Peterson and Margaret Rose Caro.
Patrice Drago is a writer and painter living in Annapolis. This column is written in cooperation with the Annapolis Gallery Association. Contact Patrice at [email protected].
Click here to view original web page at www.capitalgazette.com
May 1, 2016
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