Feature Articles
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September Issue 2005

Gallery 9 near Banner Elk, NC, Features Works by Mary-Ann Prack and Wayne Trapp

Gallery 9 near Banner Elk, NC, will present an exhibition of Mary-Ann Prack's ceramic sculpture and Wayne Trapp's paintings from Sept. 16 until Oct. 31, 2005.

It wasn't long after partners Wayne Trapp and the late Jerry Clemmons opened the doors to their new contemporary art gallery nine years ago, that Mary-Ann Prack popped in and began a special friendship with Gallery 9 and its owners. The partners, who wanted to highlight the best of regional artists, were immediately taken by Prack's organic style of sculpting and delighted to find such a talented artist for their new space just over the hills in Ashe County. Trapp, himself a renowned metal and stone sculptor, has since shared the gallery spotlight at numerous venues with Prack.

Mary-Ann Prack

Prack is a petite, soft-spoken woman who won't hesitate to set you straight should you mistakenly call her a potter. Her hand built stoneware figures transcend obvious clay works in their abstract forms and color methodology. Prack builds large free form figures that appear to have a conscious-awareness though maybe they've only got one eye and a misplaced belly button. With names like Elevated Woman, Woman's Song, Fertile Ground, and Twisted Sister, Prack definitely champions the art world's sisterhood.

"My work has a strong feminine element though it stems from an intuitive source rather than a response to trends, moral causes or politics. My subjects are vehicles which connect my inner spirit to a tangible figurative form expressed through intense, luminous surface colors tensioned against sensuous organic forms."

Prack begins by rolling clay slabs approximately 3' x 2' x 3/4". She'll create abstract forms generally ranging from 2 to 4 feet in height then slow dry and kiln fire before applying liquid glazes. Her recent work includes the use of "cold colors" such as oil-based stains, pastels, paint and graphite that offer an even greater range of tonality. She forges new territories not so much as a clay artist but as a painter in experimental technique.

Wayne Trapp

While Prack may have the quiet alter ego of a painter, Wayne Trapp is a boisterous split personality kind of artist. With the first sculpture he made from a lump of coal, there was a realization for Trapp that this would be his number one passion in life. Five or so decades later he still spends a portion of nearly everyday of his life sculpting. It's almost a matter of life or death for him and it'll usually occupy the majority of his daylight hours. Come evening, Trapp replaces power drills and chisels for brushes and oils, an artistic expression that became a serious commitment after his move to North Carolina 25 years ago.


Wayne Trapp

Just as Prack adds paintings on her sculptures, Trapp adds sculptures to his paintings. Often an abstract form he's done in stainless steel or bronze is replicated in brilliant primary oils on his large canvases. Like Prack, Trapp calls on an extended family of primitive hedonistic forms to do their thing in paintings called Dancing While Standing Still, Keeping Score of Joy, The Smell of Rain and The Conductor's Last Call.

Trapp obviously taps into internal sources for inspiration much like Prack does; but George Jones, Mozart and Frank Yankovic play (and sing) a big part as well. As a teenager, Trapp had a band called Wayne Trapp and the Polka Dots and on rare occasion, Trapp will pull out the ancient accordion he keeps in his painting studio to serenade a guest. More often, he'll put on a CD, grab a brush, and lay reds and yellows down all in one continuous motion. The results are happy, very happy. In viewing a show of Prack sculpture and Trapp paintings, one has to wonder if they know something the rest of us have yet to learn about the language of internal joy.

For more information check our NC Commercial Gallery listing, call the gallery at 828/963-6068 or at (www.gallery9.com).

 


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