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April Issue 2004
Waterfront Gallery in Charleston, SC, Offers Works by Zernie Smith
Zernie
Smith is the featured artist at Waterfront Gallery in Charleston,
SC, for the month of April. New work will be on exhibit Apr. 1
- 30, 2004. The public is invited to stop by the gallery to see
his interesting paintings.
As a homage to Charleston's famous beaches, Lowcountry artist Zernie Smith has created a series of mixed media paintings using sand as the textural element. Sterile children's playbox sand is mixed with acrylic medium to form a gooey cement-like substance which is affixed to a prepared wood surface. Painting knives of various sizes are then used to slather the goo on predetermined areas defined by a detailed drawing. The mess usually dries overnight unless unusually thick and can them be painted on with acrylic paints. "The result is nothing less than spectacular" say enthralled on-lookers.
Two major pieces, each 4 feet by 4 feet are the stars of the show. A Day at the Beach uses abstracted shapes and bright colors to represent the ever present (never present if a beach excursion is planned) sun and flotsam, jetsam, and detritus that is washed up or left on our otherwise pristine beaches. Could this painting be a statement on man's disrespect for nature? What Happened on the Patio uses uncharacteristically muted colors, thick texture, and a variety of shapes. It is left to the viewer to decide what happened on the patio as the artist is mute (as his colors) on the subject.
The Siege of Castle Capucine is a series of four sand paintings depicting an original story about the rise and fall of fictitious Castle Capucine. The story is posted along with the paintings for the perusal of interested patrons.
Sand is certainly appropriate for the Egypt Series. Pyramids, a mirage, and a sand dune are abstracted in the paintings using somewhat subdued pastel colors to reminiscent of the Egypt the artist visited some years ago. Though not plein-air paintings, the artist will say they are to be a part of the current plein-air craze.
When seeing the show, no comments should be made such as "the artist should bury his head in the sand for such drivel." Comments such as "the brilliant use of texture, shape, and color are only exceeded by the intellectual content inherent in each painting" will be accepted and appreciated by the artist.
For more info check our SC Commercial Gallery
listings, call 843/722-1155 or on the web at (www.waterfrontgallery.com).
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