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June Issue 2004
Works by Jim Harrison to Open Season of Exhibitions at Gallery 9 in Banner Elk, NC
Works by pastel artist Jim Harrison will open
the exhibition season at Gallery 9, near Banner Elk, NC. The exhibit
will be on view through June 23, 2004.
Harrison's pastels depict southern scenes in hyper-saturated colors
creating a sense of déjà vu for anyone who has journeyed
back roads, walked a quiet valley, or ventured onto the footpaths
of any southern locale. Having worked in oils and watercolors
for 30 years, Harrison incorporates painting techniques associated
with these mediums into his pastels on paper. His attentiveness
to detail is the result of years of experience with the brush,
and these techniques translate in a learned and evocative way
to his newest body of work. In order to "feel the color,"
Harrison uses his fingers to apply pastel pigment, which in turn
creates an almost surreal blending of shape and color. The allure
of his passionate hues, be they the sun-baked reds of a plowed
field, the bottomless blues of a mountain lake, or the virgin
greens of a spring forest, invite the viewer beyond passive reflection.
Harrison, a resident of Black Mountain, NC, was born in Henryetta,
OK. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a degree
in architecture, Harrison owned an architectural illustration
business for 25 years. Following that, was a 15 year stay in Santa
Fe where he worked as an artist and gallery owner, constantly
refining his style of painting and experimenting with different
mediums and surfaces. A natural born teacher, he has always shared
freely with others, often conducting workshops and one-on-one
instruction.
The pleasure of a Harrison landscape lies in
its sensory indulgence. These are not cerebral works so much as
a heady trip into magical places. The flow of color and the palpable
feeling of light within these landscapes transmute, quite often,
what might be considered the ordinary into pure sensation and
beauty.
For more information check our NC Commercial Gallery listings,
call the gallery at 828/963-6068, e-mail at (info@gallery9.com),
or at (www.gallery9.com).
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