LINEAGE

"The Under Estimation" by Andras Bality


"Lineage" is a group show "of working relationships" opening at the Sol Cooper Gallery located at 306 N. Sycamore St. in Petersburg, VA on Friday, July 13 from 7-9pm.

Artists exhibiting work in the show are Ron Walton, Terry Ammons, Andras Bality, Angela Orrell, Maruta Racenis, Liz McCormack, Dolly Holmes, Bobby Lynch, Mark Pehanich, Aimee Joyaux, Patrick Gregory, Tom McCormack and Barry Roebuck.

I am familiar and admire the work of maybe half the artists in this show so it should be worth the trip to P'burg! Harry and I spent some time in P'burg awhile ago. He was writing an article on the burgeoning art scene and I considered investing in a studio there. There is a wonderful can-do energy in this small village as well as the promise of cheap real estate! Ignatius of Ignatius Hats left Carytown for Petersburg a long time ago! Sol Cooper Gallery is the result of this wave of art energy and promises to bring a high level of art and dialogue to the current scene.

Andras Bality, whose work is pictured above, produced a memorable show for Page Bond Gallery earlier this season. I thought it was his best show ever with large, playful, ambitious images from his new life as a husband and father. A young, talented painter I know thought the show was ripe with sentimentality and dissed it completely. Perhaps it could be seen as sentimental - which is a big no no... maybe that's why I love the show - because he was adressing a giant no-no? Either way, it was splendid work and I am sure whatever Andy shows at Sol Cooper will be worth a look.

Below: Earlier this year Andy answered questions about his paintings on view at the Page Bond Gallery.