winter arts festival 2021

Art breathes human connection, marks moments in time and can push us to new places. The elements of art come together to draw a viewer closer or explore deeper.   As individuals, we view art with our own set of influences that lead to various interpretations. I endeavored to choose a combination of works that explored a range of mediums and subject matters from traditional to abstract.   For each of the works I chose there was an attraction, an element, a combination that gave me pause. I encourage the viewer to look longer, to linger with a work, and to explore details, elements and forms. 

Barbara Carlson’s Ter ceÍra Countryside juxtaposed opposites – light and dark, geometric and organic shapes – all layered within a tight composition.   However, it was the thin blue line of the window that stood against the white building and red roof that had me coming back over and over again – simple and very effective. 

Color, texture and detail were all in play with Patricia Flynn’s Marrakesh.   The richness of the vibrant palette played with the fine hand work of the stitches woven into various shapes and forms, which contrasted with simple well placed beads to push the plane of the artwork out just beyond the surface. 

A traditional subject matter of a female figure was stunningly rendered in greens and blues in The Ghost Between Your Fingers by Ken Widing.   A simple figure paired with an unsuspecting palette, a turned gaze and opened palms welcomed me but kept me at an arm’s length with pause.

Thank you to all of the artists that entered and to the gallery volunteers that made the 24th Annual Juried Winter Arts Festival exhibition possible. The organization and hard work behind the scenes is what continues to make this a successful event. In light of a tough year, I commend the Gallery Uptown for creating an outlet for artists, art lovers and collectors alike to enrich our lives through the Gallery’s continued effort to remain open and accessible to the community.