BRATTLEBORO-118 Elliot presents a special showing and conversation with the artists of "Fueled by Love: Work That Keeps You Going," an exhibition of paintings by Ellen Cone Maddrey, Gayle Robertson, John Loggia, Liza King, Mary Therese Wright, and Tina Olsen on Sunday, Feb. 23, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Hot drinks and pastries will be provided.
"Fueled by Love" brings together a collection of paintings by six artists, each piece chosen by the artist as a touchstone to keep painting and keep exploring.
The pieces in the exhibition feature ways "to fuel creativity with love," organizers said. Some of the works were generated quickly, others over time.
"The process is as important as the painting itself, as contemplation and experimentation flow into action, and emotions and ideas emerge through the medium. These pieces reflect love back to the artists and bring hope, joy, and welcome for what comes next."
The artists will discuss what speaks to them in painting and explore strategies each employs to encourage creativity. The artists welcome discussion from the audience.
Maddrey came to painting later in life after working as an attorney and educator, traveling and living abroad, and learning from her three children. She says her artistic inspiration is deeply embedded in the mountains of Seattle, her childhood home, and the natural world of Vermont; she interprets the nurturing aspects of nature through color and shape, working in oil and pastel. She lives in Montclair, New Jersey, and has a second home in Wilmington.
Robertson has been artistically active all her life. Her experiences in the fields of lighting design, computer graphics, 2D and 3D traditional media, spirituality, and end of life and bereavement mix to bring different lenses to what happens in her studio. Organizers say she uses her art work as a way to engage with the moments of life and as a tool for exploring all its meaning, calling upon her materials to bring her interests to light. She lives in Southern Vermont where she enjoys being part of the vibrant arts community.
Loggia has been painting and working in the arts since 1979. He has maintained a practice of drawing and painting while working in film as a production designer and producer. In 2015, he opened 118 Elliot which he runs with his partner. Loggia is also a musician. He says playing music and painting are two sides of the same coin, with each practice informing the other and encouraging experimentation, risk, and unexpected revelations.
Wright's artwork and community-based projects have been shown throughout the United States since 1989. She has a keen interest in materiality, whether painting, printmaking, or metalsmithing. Her current work is a response to colors and shapes of nature. She lives in Jacksonville and draws inspiration from her deep relationship with the trails and water of Lake Whitingham.
Olsen has painted throughout her life for what she calls "therapeutic creative expression." She moved to Brattleboro in 2006 to live near her daughter and found a community of artists here. Olsen says her works in oil and watercolor bring life to the healing light of nature.
The gallery, at 118 Elliot St., is open by appointment for private viewing through February. For more information, visit 118Elliot.com.
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.