WAYNESBORO – Gallery 50 and the Arts Alliance of Greater Waynesboro opened an art exhibition on Aug. 8, attended and enjoyed by an enthusiastic crowd. This Friday evening event brought together a group of artists showcasing new works. They mingled with art patrons while sampling hors d’oeuvres and listening to live music.
The exhibition, titled “The World According to Art,” runs through Nov. 1 and was curated by Marti Yeager. This juried collection features a diverse range of works in painting, photography, sculpture, carving, ceramics and decorative media. As expected, Gallery 50 hosted a wonderful evening of art, music and camaraderie at its inspired downtown Waynesboro venue.
These new works captured the eyes of art lovers, and painter Eric Hyne’s pieces were indicative of the overall quality of the exhibition. Hyne’s paintings convey his mastery of creating fine architectural details and emotive natural elements in his artwork. These works included “South Carlisle Street, Greencastle,” which showcases Hyne’s professional background in the architecture field, and “Evening: Black Mountain, Nevada,” a painting that illustrates the artist’s enduring love for the western landscapes of his youth. Hyne’s “Silent Encounter” evokes the joy of discovery felt by a canoeist gliding alone over mirrored water.
Artist Karen Ferrick exhibits vivacious botanical works, including “Charmed” and “Arabesque,” which pair perfectly with Melissa Hook’s captivating “Birds of a Feather.” Another standout artwork was “Sudden Squall” by Barbara DeUgarte. This painting shows an approaching storm looming over a coastal shoreline, yet the work conveys such a sense of serenity that the viewer longs to be present in the scene. DeUgarte also showed her artistic versatility with the mixed-media work “Everything’s Coming Up Rosy.”
Another memorable scene near the water was painted by Lindsay Tozier-School, with her tranquil “Reflections” piece depicting a lakeside landscape. Tozier-School’s “Spring Greens” is another of her acrylic on paper works that conveys a lush waterside setting as the world becomes green again. A pastel painting by Gloria Walker also celebrates natural themes with her work, “Walking in the Fields,” with a grassy rural lane leading the eye into a rural retreat.
Local artist Andy Smetzer presents intriguing photography pieces in the exhibit. Smetzer has shown a keen ability to wear multiple creative hats by creating a variety of stylized photographs. In this show, his “Thinking of Home” work conjures memories of local history as a Civil War reenactor poses, lost in reflection at a bygone military campsite. The main subject is a young soldier lounging alone on a rock wall, seemingly missing his family, and possibly pondering his mortality during America’s most epic era.
Wandering through the gallery space, several other interesting works represent the talent of local artists skilled in pottery, ceramics and decorative jewelry media. Diane West’s “Totem w/base Pot” is a whimsical and enchanting piece, created with ceramic objects (including a fish) connected by a steel bar that makes the work stand upright, mimicking a tiny totem pole. The combined stoneware piece rests in a bed of pinecones, and this excellent artwork could equally grace a garden or be admired as a conversation piece indoors. Teresa Stewart’s “Pink/Purple Orchid Necklace” is a gorgeous resin creation that an art lover can proudly wear in public. Garnet Yeager continues his fine gallery showings of wood carvings with realistic bird sculptures and other unique wooden pieces such as “Shrooms in My Beard.” Trudy Gembe-Palughi’s pottery shines with reflective surfaces on blue ceramic birdhouses.
With these high-quality original works and others too numerous to recount, “The World According to Art” lives up to its promise. This exhibit is a fine collection, providing a peek into the creative processes of talented artists. The ensemble shows how imaginative people interpret the world and then skillfully create memorable artworks that stir human senses.
Gallery 50 is open 5 to 8 pm on Fridays (with live music every week) and Saturdays from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm at 50 West Main St. in Waynesboro. The Art Alliance also sells artwork and books on its website: artsalliancegw.org.
