Love... Living Abundantly by Helen Brooks
Helen Brooks and Linda Kerlin present “Old, New, Borrowed, Blue”, their recent paintings as the In-Town Gallery’s featured front wall show for March.
These two friends, living in the Sequatchie Valley, created a series of abstract paintings expressing their joy and awe in the natural beauty surrounding them. Their remembrances of earlier places of beauty in their lives, as well as the influences of other artists and instructors through the years, motivated them to create this current body of work.
There will be an opening reception to meet the artists on Friday, March 3, from 5-8 p.m. at 26A Frazier Ave.
Review for Old, New, Borrowed, Blue:
The artists have made many like-minded friends in their involvement in world of art. There are old friends and the continuing joy of new friends, all of whom have had some influence on their techniques or artistic viewpoints. In their studies and workshops, they have taken some of the technical knowledge and reinterpreted it into their own style - stepping stones borrowed from their mentors. The psychological reaction to blue is that of calm, trust, peace and tranquility, thus the color reference expresses the common emotional impact found in their work. Old and new friends and art techniques, borrowed influences of artists in the past, and the inner security and confidence expressed by the blue in their compositions explain the choice for the show title.
“Art transcends all human boundaries," said sculptor Richard MacDonald. "It is a gift of almost inexplicable, magical energy. When our hearts, through our senses, are touched by art, our lives are enhanced. Ms. Brooks takes this somewhat mystical and spiritual approach to her paintings, many of which are florals. Using acrylic paints, this former teacher allows her enthusiasm to spill over into her work.
Ms. Brooks said about her paintings, “In my journey to become a better artist, I have the continuing adventure of self discovery, challenge and excitement. Every painting is a new experience, a way to voice my feelings and ideas about the beauty around me, and a constant motivation to find true, original expression." Her outgoing persona seems to resonate as her buyers usually become collectors.
Tennessee born, Ms. Kerlin was enamored with living close to nature as a “flower child” and later in many different locales as a corporate gypsy. Michigan, Texas, Colorado and North Carolina had their charms, but it was while living in Texas she and a friend took a drawing class and she never looked back. The genie was out of the bottle and the artist’s passion took hold. Ms. Kerlin is more a studio than a plein air painter and begins her works without a subject in mind. Music is the catalyst and she begins by covering the surface with color or lines and continues experimentally layering, adding or subtracting and using different materials and tools and maybe some collage a well.
“I add lots of color and movement and follow the principles of design until the results are satisfying," Said Ms. Kerlin. "The painting process for me is a spontaneous peacefulness of layering paint to create movement like a song that takes you away momentarily removing all distractions.”
Their front wall exhibition runs through the month of March. The works of all 34 members are on continuous display throughout the year. In-Town Gallery, at 26A Frazier Ave. on the North Shore, is open every day, year round, except for major holidays. Hours are 11 a.m.--6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. on Sunday and util 8 p.m. on First Fridays. Call 2267-9214 or visit www.facebook.com/intowngallery for more information.
Rhythmic Journey by Linda Kerlin