| For more information about this article or gallery, please call the gallery phone number listed in the last line of the article, "For more info..." |
July Issue 2005
Blowing Rock Frameworks and Gallery Offers Work by Wes Waugh
Blowing
Rock Frameworks and Gallery in Blowing Rock, NC, will host the
exhibit, 8 Miles High / Landscapes Inspired by the Doc and
Merle Scenic Byway, featuring works by one of the high country's
most popular landscape artists, Wes Waugh. The exhibit will be
on view from July 11 - 23, 2005.
"This will comprise Waugh's eighth solo exhibition with Blowing
Rock Frameworks & Gallery and is certain to draw early viewers
and collectors as his new works arrive," says gallery owner
Tim Miller. "Wes has established a strong collector base
not only here in the high country but from off the mountain as
well and we expect pieces to move quickly as they have with his
past seven showings," notes Miller.
Waugh tends to base his work for each solo exhibition around a
theme, but also feels free to deviate and include a number of
painting styles and subjects he has become known for. "It
would be unusual for me not to include a new view or perspective
of Grandfather Mountain or at least one fish painting; as both
have become touchstones for me as I develop a new body of work"
Waugh states. "I enjoy doing different color studies and
painting Grandfather under different lighting and atmospheric
conditions, there are so many diverse views of the series of ridgelines
that make up the mountain as a whole."
The theme for this show however, stems from Waugh being inspired
by the multitude of new landscape "views" that resulted
from the opening of North Carolina's newest Scenic Byway, the
Doc and Merle Highway in 2004. "Those of us who for years
regularly drove the old 421 immediately felt like we were in 'big
sky country' when we drove this road for the first time,"
says Waugh. "In contrast to the winding passages and somewhat
claustrophobic (not to mention dangerous!) feeling of the old
route, the new highway offered large expanses of land and mountain
views that were previously hidden from travelers. I immediately
began seeing new landscape painting possibilities and felt this
could be a way to help others appreciate the beauty of this eight
mile stretch from Deep Gap to Boone and also a way to acknowledge
all those who worked hard to help this come to fruition."
Over the past six months, Waugh has traveled the stretch repeatedly
making note of potential subjects and compositions: "Sometimes
I wonder if landscape painters should be allowed a driver's license,
as I am prone to drive much too slowly and to hit the shoulder
of the road with far too little notice," says Waugh. "Typically,
I compose via photographs and journal sketches and remarks; then
work in the studio until late at night, my goal being to capture
the feeling of the subject matter and environment but not necessarily
its realities. I also spent a good bit of time and travel on side
roads, offshoots and even did some light off-roading (within the
state right-of-way of course) to gain access to some of the views
that interested me the most."
Waugh adds, "In the process, I feel that I gained a certain
perspective of this area that I didn't have before. Because of
this the work in this show reflects not only the landscape, but
some of the feeling of the Appalachian culture housed within this
landscape as well."
Waugh works primarily in watercolor but also
chose this show as an opportunity to include some new media approaches
including water-color pencil, aquasticks, and oil pastels.
Waugh is an instructor and product consultant for Cheap Joe's
Art Stuff in Boone, NC; a product consultant for Savoir Faire
Art Products in San Francisco, CA.; has juried a number of art
shows and served as a guest speaker for a number of North Carolina
Artists' Guild events. He resides in downtown Boone, NC, with
his wife Lynne and daughter, Andie.
For more information check our NC Commercial Gallery listings,
call the gallery at 828/295-0041 or at (www.brframegallery.com).
Carolina Arts is published monthly by Shoestring Publishing Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc. Copyright© 2004 by PSMG, Inc., which published Charleston Arts from July 1987 - Dec. 1994 and South Carolina Arts from Jan. 1995 - Dec. 1996. It also publishes Carolina Arts Online, Copyright© 2004 by PSMG, Inc. All rights reserved by PSMG, Inc. or by the authors of articles. Reproduction or use without written permission is strictly prohibited. Carolina Arts is available throughout North & South Carolina.