By Caroline Roosevelt, Columnist, The Times
I hope everyone’s enjoying the gentle springish thaw this week after all the snow. At this point, the light has changed and, in my opinion, spring can’t come soon enough. So let’s look forward towards the upcoming art events leading us into March.
March 12th – April 6th, Somerville Manning will be hosting a solo exhibition of figurative paintings by Holly Trostle Brigham. Imbued with elements of Renaissance Christian art, Brigham breathes new light and perspective into heroines of history, as well as her own self portraits. Working primarily with watercolor on paper, Brigham has at least momentarily tricked me into believing these works to be oil. The rich layers, and the sinewy qualities of her figures hark back to El Greco, perhaps mixed with art nouveau, and some Viennese Secessionists (Schiele, Klimt, Munch) touches. Stop by Somerville Manning for the opening reception of this exhibition on March 15th from 5:30 – 7:30pm.
There are plenty of events to check out before they end in March. Stop by DCAD during the First Friday Art Loop on March 1st for the closing reception of Ellen Durkan: Behind Her Iron Gates. Durkan, of Iron Maiden Forge, teaches and is graduated of Delaware College of Art and Design. She focuses on “forged fashion” in this exhibition of metalworks, drawings and small sculptures. View this work before the show comes down from 5 – 8pm.
Art Trust, in West Chester, will host an artist talk for their current exhibition, “It Takes Two” on February 28th from 7 – 8pm. Join them to hear from the contributing artist couples, Jeanne Petrosky & Dennis Guzinksy, Mia Schaller & Jeff Schaller, Rhoda Kahler & Mike Kahler. This exhibition ends March 1st.
Church Street Gallery will host an opening reception for Brett Anderson Walker’s solo exhibition. A multimedia artist, Anderson Walker boasts a portfolio that ranges from film, sculpture to painting. He exhibits nationally and internationally, and currently works in Chester County. Stop by and enjoy a glass of wine and scope his paintings from 5 – 9pm.
Delaware Contemporary will unveil a new exhibition, “Time Stilled, My Hair Narrative: A Draper Experiment by Tia Santana” on March 1st. This is the second exhibition in the Delaware Contemporary Draper Experiment Series. Santana cast hair extensions of varying shapes and sizes to explore the permanence and development of elements and traditions of black culture. The pieces themselves, while showcasing the decorative, also touch on the archaeological and anthropological as their presentation mimics that of artifacts found in the Egyptian tombs. This exhibition will be on display during the First Friday Art Loop from 5 – 9pm.
Finally, stop by Chris White Gallery in Wilmington for the closing reception of OFF SITE: Pop Up Art KSQ’s Winter Exhibition from 5:30 – 9pm this Friday, February 22nd. Stop in and enjoy a glass of wine, live dj, and works by ten local artists. All work is for sale, and includes video art, drawings, paintings and sculpture. Stop by and support local art.
Tune in to Art Watch Radio 1520 WCHE from 1-1:30pm. This week, Margaret Winslow Director of Contemporary Art at Delaware Art Museum hosts Jamie Loper and Marilyn Bauman on The Loper Tradition: Paintings by Edward Loper, Sr. and Edward Loper, Jr. Until next week!