INAUGURAL SALON
Impressionism thrives
Artists Dan Beck and E. Melinda Morrison have been friends for the past 13 years, and a recent conversation about exhibiting their work together again led to the creation of a larger invitational exhibition. Reminiscent of the French salons of the late 1800s, Salon des Beaux-Artes will feature the work of nine award-winning artists in a celebration of friendship and impressionism. The show will take place at Beck’s studio and gallery, Beck Fine Art Gallery, in Wilmington, North Carolina, from October 5 to 31.
On view will be works by Beck, Morrison, Kevin Beilfuss, John Cook, Kim English, Louis Escobedo, Bryce Cameron Liston, Nura Mascarenas and John Poon. The pieces will highlight their talents across subject matter.
Beck’s figurative painting A Walk Away depicts a young woman standing at the water’s edge. Of the work, the artist says, “In A Walk Away I loved the not-tooobvious narrative that is implied. This is a very textural piece, and the process of applying paint was my main concern.”
Liston will also present a figurative piece in the show: Notes in Burgundy. The work shows a woman with her bare back toward the viewer with her clothing wrapped along her arms and waist. “It can sometimes be difficult to find the perfect balance between keeping it simple and providing the piece with enough environment to keep the viewer interested,” he says. “I think Notes in Burgundy accomplishes this with the light, design and fluidity of the figure. I like to think of a small painting as being like a poem or a few lines from a poem; a tiny bit of narrative beyond just the figure. I want the viewer to fill in the rest of the story and to identify with what’s going on in the scene.”
Escobedo’s work Taos Apples, a close-up painting of apples hanging from a tree, was inspired by a visit to the Taos Art Museum at Fechin House in Taos, New Mexico. “I loved the light and fine glimmer of color among the leaves and the apples,” he says.
Another artist fascinated by lighting effects is Poon, whose Morning on the Marshland depicts the picturesque subject matter of the Carolinas. He adds that during the “richly saturated morning and evening light, opportunities abound for dramatic compositions.”
Salon des Beaux-Artes opens with a reception from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on October 5, and during the opening week there will be opportunities for collectors to preview the show, meet the artists and attend demonstrations and lectures.
Beck Fine Art Gallery
545 Castle Street • Wilmington, NC 28401 • (720) 329-5740 • www.beckfineart.com