"Constructs" on View at the LCVA

Constructs, an exhibition of assemblage style paintings is on view at the Longwood Center for Visual Arts through August 31. Paintings by Mid-Atlantic artists Sally Bowring, Don Crow, Steven Cushner, Reni Gower, Chris Gregson, Steve Griffin, Ron Johnson, Ray Kass, Paul Ryan, Javier Tapia and Dan Treado are included in this luscious exhibition of color and form.

This collection of paintings is one of the most beautiful installations I've seen in the LCVA since it moved to its Main Street location in the early 90's. According to the curators it is also one of the best installations on the tour. There aren't any weak passes here. Each artist offers a distinctive approach when considering the concept behind Constructs. Ray Kass never ceases to amaze me. Nothing slows him down and his work in this show is exceptional in its strength and subtlety. Dan Treado's sequential frames are new to me and lush in their cool depth and persistence.

The LCVA is located at 129 N. Main Street in Farmville, VA and is open Monday through Saturday from 11am to 5pm. African Art from the LCVA's permanent collection is on view in the adjacent gallery and it makes an excellent counterpoint to Constructs.

Madame Jacque

On Friday I was fortunate to be able to ride into Farmville with a couple of artist/curators who had business at the LCVA. It was the perfect opportunity to pay my respect to a dear friend and mentor, the sculptor Jackie Wall.

Jackie's story would be a good read and is the result of strong convictions and passion for the world around her. She's an advocate for art, culture, nature conservation, human relations, much less race relations! She has exhibited her sculpture throughout the mid Atlantic and been a force for change during the past 40 years or so in central Virginia.

Late one morning I was pulling into my studio parking lot and was shocked to hear Jackie's voice on NPR! She was interviewed as part of "Separate But Unequal, How a Student-Led Protest Helped Change the Nation." She is the voice of reason and promise in this interview that honored the 50th anniversary of Brown vs the Board of Education. If you visit this link and listen to the second part of the interview series you'll hear Jackie talking about her experiences during that era and the promise of the future.

She's the real deal. At 81, she's still a force of nature.