Feature Articles


October Issue 2000

Wells Gallery in Charleston, SC, Presents a Still Life Exhibition

Artists throughout history have used the genre of still life to explore, study, and stretch creatively. Perhaps most notably, Dutch artists developed the still life hundreds of years ago, creating richly detailed compositions of carefully selected objects, which were often used to communicate symbolically with the viewer. Many artists of the present age trend toward simplicity in their still lifes, offering the viewer a reminder of a gentler pace and rest from our current hectic, rush-hour.

Eight Lowcountry artists display their individual approaches in a Still Life Exhibition at the Wells Gallery Oct. 13 - 27. The participating artists are Joseph Cave, Gary Gowans, William Jameson, Linda McCane, Wilford Spoon, Shannon Smith, Rhett Thurman, and Karen Larson Turner.

Karen Larson Turner, a classically trained artist herself, follows the lead of Northern Renaissance painters, by painting simple objects with a devoted realism, focusing on their texture, light and color. She feels that still life painting provides much more for both painter and viewer than a mere study, explaining that she in "intrigued by the way an object, when placed in the light of a deliberate arrangement, seems to transcend its ordinary qualities."

Shannon Smith often chooses common, everyday objects when creating her still lifes. Whether it is old glass bottles in a windowsill or items from her daily life as a painter, she is always in constant pursuit of the beauty found in simple things. To do this Smith focuses on capturing natural light, most often with the use of strong, warm colors.

Joseph Cave explores his concept of still life with intense hues of color and thick, bold brushstrokes. The vitality of his technique and texture is apparent, being described by critics as "brilliant clusters of living things."

For further information check our SC Commercial Gallery listings or call the gallery at 843/853-3233 or visit (www.wellsgallery.com).

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