Liquid Courage On Tap at Village Arts In Newest Exhibition

Photo Courtesy Village Arts

Photo Courtesy Village Arts

Photo Courtesy Village Arts

VILLAGE ARTS NEWS RELEASE

Village Arts is serving up a healthy dose of Liquid Courage for this exhibition featuring all the fluidity of liquidity! Artists were asked to let loose of their inhibitions, play with a liquid media, take on water as a social justice issue, or mimic the sound, feel, taste, and movement of liquids. Artists responded with an absolute deluge of paintings, sculptures, drawings, photography, and fiber work all along the same theme!

A love of land- and sea- scapes runs deep in this exhibit, with beautiful executed tropical sunsets, bright sunny beaches, and still reflections depicted in a variety of different media. Surprisingly, desert scenes and ocean views get equal billing! It is interesting that Liquid Courage could relate to both parched landscapes in desperate need of water and enormous waves crashing in from rough seas, both which Ward Zaelke takes on in his paintings. A particularly poignant use of landscape depicting liquid courage is Jeanne Bowle’s “Pond By Fire” where still waters reflect the glowing smoke of a wildfire.

Liquids as a theme brings both reflection and motion to the table, and the artwork in this exhibit doesn’t disappoint! Sue Ellen Hains’ swirling collage “Water and Clouds” is juxtaposed between Cindy Boone’s “Cool Clear Water” watercolor of a sheltered inlet and Melissa Alexander’s knitted scarf of waves against the shore entitled “The Tide is In”. Karen Trythall’s luminescent oil painting “Rio Current” practically cools the viewers toes as it rushes downstream, and Eileen Patterson’s collages “Reading the Water”, “Full Moon, High Tide”, and “Sometimes Sunny Days End In Rain” explore the push, pull, rise, and fall of water in all it’s quiet power.

It might not be raining cats and dogs outside, but Liquid Courage has inspired a whole host of critters to take up residence on the walls at Village Arts! A flock of rubber ducks congregate in Ericka Hoover’s “Bosque de Aquacky” and Ann Greene’s beaded heron feasts on a well earned snack. Phyllisha Hamrick’s pastel hippo raises its head above the water line to meet the viewer’s eyes, while dragons fly over fairy tale lakes on a sewn and embroidered purse by Paulette Woodall. Watercolored eels and jellyfish by Rose Riglin share the reef with Nancy Cope’s embroidered sea horses and jellyfish.

A love for the stronger stuff is also a running theme in this exhibit with Tomàs Redondo’s liquor bottle and beer can photoshoots taking center stage. Scenes by several artists feature wines and whiskey in watercolor, photography, and scratchboard, and a portrait of a beautiful young woman takes all of artist Allen Hopkin’s courage. Did you know that Village Arts’ front counter is the original bar from Fuller Lodge? Just think of the stories it holds! Now the walls of Village Arts hold so many more stories.

With gargoyle waterspouts and mermaids appearing beside the Milky Way, a neighborhood pool, felted ducklings, and a healthy dose of the stronger stuff, this show definitely describes a breadth of subject matter that goes beyond what is often typical of an exhibit at Village Arts. Americana is brought to life in Ezra Estes’ watercolored “Cadillac Ranch” and Fred Jone’s “California Dream” scratchboard of a surfer at sunrise. Michael Andryc brings us stories of canoe rides with a the Son of the Frog, cruises with Clark Gable, and the Green Fairy.

Belly on up to the bar at Village Arts to see two dozen artists celebrate Liquid Courage, vote on your favorite pieces for the Viewer’s Choice Award, or fall in love and bring home a cup or two of your own Liquid Courage! Everyone is welcome to enter an exhibit at Village Arts, and anyone who is interested should connect with Village Arts via social media, at 505-661-2526, or online at www.villageartsframing.com.

Village Arts next exhibit, “Under Construction”, looks at artwork as work in progress or themes re-examined, and embraces both the frustration and beauty that comes from the creative process. Villa Arts is located at 216 DP Road and open Monday through Friday from 9 AM-4 PM, Saturdays from 10 AM-4 PM, and by appointment.