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August Issue 2005
Summit One Gallery in Highlands, NC, Offers Works by Jane Smithers
Summit
One Gallery will present the exhibition, See Jane Paint,
featuring works by Jane Smithers, on view from Aug. 6 - 31, 2005.
Smithers will be painting on location at Summit One Gallery throughout
the month.
Smithers received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Wilson College,
PA, and has traveled the globe extensively; spending weeks at
a time painting in Provence and Tuscany. This fall she travels
to South Africa and Botswana to paint and work with the local
children; teaching and exploring the arts with them.
See Jane Paint led Smithers to explore new subject matters
for herself. As she paints in the gallery you will be able to
watch new and emerging works develop: abstracts, figure studies
and new landscapes. Smithers says of this body of work, "With
artistic confidence and determination, I quickly and spontaneously
paint my emotional impressions. Through movement and manipulation
of rich textured oils, I interpret what I imagine rather than
actuality. The subject matter requires no explanation. I touch
as well as feel - leaving a bit of myself behind".
"With this body of work, I explore new subtle shades, reshaping forms with assertive palette knife work complemented by a strong color palette," adds Smithers. "The path becomes clear as I continue my journey beyond the borders of imagination, alive with possibilities."
Smithers' has a simple story which from the beginning has been a creative journey that has slowly and meaningfully become her life's passion. First, she describes the framework that this adventure was built upon and then the actual structure that she has settled into as her own creative process.
Smithers was born in a small town in the mountains of Pennsylvania of Amish country. At age 8 her parents took a bold step and moved to Ponce, Puerto Rico. They were one of two continental families living there - she remembers her mother shopping at the open air markets, studying at Catholic girls school with Majorcan nuns (learning English in Spanish!), Chaperones, formal balls, serenades, exploring coffee plantations and rain forests, remote islands and gorgeous coral reefs. She returned to the states for college, graduated, got married and moved to Manhattan, NY. There she experienced the very best in art, ballet, music, ethnicity - but most of all diversity!
Next stop London - where she got a dose of
ancient art, magnificent gardens, splendid architecture and unending
travel. On to Houston, TX - everything was new, exuberant and
fun! There she spent her time raising her family, 10 years of
interior design, 5 years with her own catering business and a
fiber arts design and teaching studio. At this time, she began
traveling to France every year; renting houses with friends, some
of whom were artists. This is where she began watercolor journaling.
Under the guidance of Margaret Hoybach, she listened to the local
gossip, sipped the local wine and began to record these experiences
in her journals. These became the foundation for her paintings.
Curiosity and the desire to have something
just for herself led her to an open studio in Houston. All manner
of artists were there - poets, sculptors, painters - all working
together in one studio. After 6 weeks and putting absolutely nothing
on the canvas - Karen Garret, the young artist running the studio
went to her and handed her a palette knife and said, "Now
do what you were meant to do!"
Smithers says, "and it was that simple - I've never looked
back or picked up a brush! And now I have come full circle...I
live in a small town in the mountains! And it was here that I
earnestly began painting."
So all these wonderful experiences that she
has had; have come together in this adventure called art. Smithers
was fortunate to meet two other artists at this time who invited
her to start a fine arts gallery, where she learned the business
side of art. She says it was an invaluable experience but she
now knows that her heart is in the creative process and the business
side is now done for her by galleries here in Highlands (Summit
One Gallery), Jackson Hole, WY, and St. Simon's Island, GA. Smithers
reaffirms, "I am a painter!"
Smithers will also be the featured artist at the Aug. 8, 2005,
"Evening of Fine Art, Fine Wine and Fine Dining" event
at Wolfgang's Restaurant and Wine Bistro. Geyser Peak Winery is
also featured with winemaker, Kipp Little discussing the making
of Geyser Peak wines. Other artists and wines featured during
the month of August include: Aug. 1, 2005, nature photographer
Don McGowan and William Golden from Ferrari Carano Vineyards and
Winery; Aug. 15, 2005, Asheville artist Deborah Squier and Markham
Vineyards with Bryan Del Bondio, president of Markham Vineyards;
Aug. 22, 2005, Highlands artist, Diane McPhail and Steve Reynolds,
proprietor and winemaker of Reynolds Family Winery; and on Aug.
29, 2005 a "Strong Setting" featuring Highlands artist
Rosemary Stiefel and wines by Rodney Strong Vineyards with wine
manager, Sharon Schwartz. Call 828/526-3807 for reservations.
For further information check our NC Commercial
Gallery listings, call the gallery at 828/526-2673 or at (www.summitonegallery.com).
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