Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Sit - Stay Exhibit Opens


Mary Lou Zeek Gallery is going to the dogs!

An exhibit of my Winslow paintings opens Wednesday, July 3rd, with a reception from 5-7 PM at 335 State Street in Salem, Oregon. Winslow and I will be there with bells on, and I hope you can make it too.

Click here to see all the paintings and prices. If you'd like to purchase a painting, contact mzeek@comcast.net, or call 503-581-3229.

Here's the statement for the show:


Dogs have always been a part of my life.   In earliest childhood there was Rusty—a beautiful russet colored spaniel.  In my teens we had Taffy—a loving and gorgeous golden cocker.  In heartbreakingly brief appearances, others have enriched my life over the years, often named after artists:  Andy (Wyeth), Rembrandt(van Rijn), Maya (Angelou), Pablo (Picasso).

And now it’s Winslow (Homer), my beloved friend and constant companion.   I had already done several paintings of him, and when Mary Lou told me of her idea for a show called “Sit/Stay”, the thought of doing a focused series of works centered around my canine pal seemed irresistible.

On the surface, of course, these paintings are about a dog.  But so much of art is about intangibles that go beyond subject matter alone.  Visual language picks up where words leave off.  In formal terms I’ve tried to find fresh and exciting abstract relationships of color, shape and design.  But I also hoped to discover an emotional tenor--equivalents for things that can’t be expressed any other way:  the  simple elegance of a shaft of sunlight filtering through a window; a sense of sound or of silence in a room; qualities of space and air; a feeling for the passage of time; the fleeting sensation that something just happened or is about to occur. 

In short--these paintings for me are a way to speak not only of love for a dog, but of love for the great mystery and profound beauty of life itself.

14 comments:

shirley fachilla said...

How wonderful to be able to see all your Winslows destined for the exhibit. I thought I'd be able to pick I favorite, but I can't.
Most have a sense of sweet melancholy for me, and I admire and like the strong abstract design of each one.

Egretta Wells blog said...

I was so pleased to see all your dog paintings and they are outstanding. I love the clean, minimal backgrounds and superb shadows that make your focus on Winslow.

Art By Erika said...

Congratulations Don! I clicked on the link and just loved the show! My favorite would be the The Tunnel Inspector but you have such a way with designing and accompanied your skill just makes for some winning pieces! Best wishes for a successful show! When are you publishing a book on design anyway?

Deborah Paris said...

How wonderful that Winslow gets to attend! I love them all and love your spare designs and Winslow's evocative " poses ". Congrats to you both!

Don Gray said...

Shirley--thank you, that means a lot.

Don Gray said...

So kind of you, Egretta--thanks.

Don Gray said...

Hi there, Erika--thanks for the uplifting comments!

Don Gray said...

Deborah, thank you for your supportive words. Yes, I think Win and I will have a lot of fun at the opening!

Gary L. Everest said...

Hi Don,
Knock 'em dead in your show. I have a feeling it'll be a sell-out. Your Winslow paintings are wonderful and touching and sincere--what more can the art-loving public want?
Best of luck, though I'm sure it won't be needed. Hope all goes well with the homw sale and upcoming move, too.
Sincerely,
Gary.

suzanneberry said...

Congratulations, your work is just outstanding! I'm a huge fan. Best of luck!

Don Gray said...

Hey Gary--mucho thanks for those well-wishes! Are you putting on plenty of sunblock over there in the islands?

Don Gray said...

A comment like that from you sends me over the top, Suzanne--you're such a superb painter.

Sheila Vaughan said...

Hi Don, your dog paintings are never "cute" - for me they show respect for the animal and glimpses of their intelligence and a shared ideology with us humans comes through. There is stillness and quietness which is always a trademark of your work and which I love. They're wonderful paintings Don. I hope people see that (and that wonderful Winslow gets lots of treats and shows up at the show. Wish I could!).

Don Gray said...

Sheila, those are such thoughtful and supportive comments--thank you so much.