Sylvia Cameron - Umbrian Landscapes
April 7- May 3, 2012
Opening Reception, Saturday April 14, 5 - 8 pm

Houston, Texas (January 30, 2012) – Archway Gallery presents Umbrian Landscapes featuring works by watercolor artist Sylvia Cameron. The exhibition will be on view April 7 – May 3, 2012.

The artist will be on hand to visit with guests during the exhibition opening reception on Saturday, April 14, 2012 from 5 – 8 pm at the gallery.

The exhibit features the beautiful landscapes of Umbria, Italy, depicting the grand villas, hilltop towns, olive groves and architecture.  During three trips to central Italy in the province of Umbria, Cameron was captivated by the beauty and charm of the area. While there, she would make daily trips to the nearby hilltop towns to photograph, sketch and paint.

Cameron’s paintings articulate the unique atmosphere of the towns she visited and serve as a kaleidoscope of her memories of the scenes that captured her fascination. “I think it is the light and shadows that so captivated me,” explains Cameron.  “I enjoy trying to get the details as close to reality as I can.”

Cameron’s technique includes sketching her plan onto watercolor paper and applying layers of washes to build up rich surfaces.  She progresses to darker and darker values to capture the deep shadows, making the colors even brighter. Remembering that there are no lines in nature, only value changes, she incorporates details to give her subjects the realistic touch for which her paintings are so well known.

Cameron, a long time resident of The Woodlands, Texas, has an avid interest in depicting the world around her, whether it is the people she has encountered on her travels or the natural environment in her own back yard. She is able to capture the rhythm in vivid colors and almost photographic realism. Her ability to accomplish this in watercolor, which is traditionally thought to be pale and fluid, is a triumph she enjoys.

After graduating from the University of Houston with an Art Education Certificate, Cameron obtained her masters in Art Education from Sam Houston State University. She taught art in both elementary and high school for eight years. During this time, she pursued her interest in pottery, sculpture, watercolor and photography while traveling and honing her skills in art classes and workshops. Most notable of her instructors were Polly Hammett and Virginia Cobb.

She went to Umbria, Italy to attend workshops at La Romeda Art School. While there she visited many hilltop towns, some dating back to the fifteenth century , spent countless hours sketching, painting and photographing the ancient towns and enjoying the local food and wine, all of which inspired her current exhibit, Umbrian Landscapes.

Sylvia Cameron is presently showing her work in two local galleries - in Old Town Spring at The Garden of the Dragonfly and in Houston at Archway Gallery. 

Opening reception, Sylvia Cameron talk, April 14, 2012

Archway Gallery presents f stops in black & color by photographer Fikry Botros from February 4 through March 3, 2011. The exhibition features black and white as well as color photographs of people in their natural landscapes and moments captured from our everyday lives. 

The artist will be on hand to visit with guests during the exhibition opening reception on Saturday, February 5 from 5 – 8 pm at the gallery.

Deeply influenced by the variety of cultures that coexist in his native Egypt, Botros developed his interest in photography at a very early age. Throughout the years he has developed his own style in photographing people, architecture and city life. With his camera as his constant companion, he has travelled extensively throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US. His art captures images through a sensitive eye which invites viewers to immerse themselves in a world of shades, colors and forms.

An engineer by profession, Botros left Egypt at age 23 and moved to New York to complete his graduate degrees at Columbia University. He moved to Texas in 1982 where he continues to live and work. Since 2005, Botros’ work has been exhibited at a variety of venues throughout Houston. Botros has been an Archway Gallery member since June, 2010.

Archway Gallery presents GENERATION, an exhibition of collaborative and solo artworksby Gene Hester and Liz Conces Spencer.  The exhibition will be on view February 3 through March 1, 2012.

The artists will visit with guests during the opening reception on Saturday, February 4, 2012 from 5 – 8 PM at the gallery. They will offer remarks and insights at 6:30 PM.

GENERATION is an ongoing source of inspiration for Gene Hester and Liz Conces Spencer, who examine visually the natural and sometimes sudden changes that occur in relationships, the environment and our own consciousness. The artists have created collaborative works in fused glass and solo works in papier-mâché and various mixed media as a complement to the more traditional styles they have typically shown.  Viewers will be encouraged to relate our shared experiences with natural occurrences that have shaped and reshaped our environment, as well as the life-altering but ever-shifting events that are part of being human.

Hester and Spencer have collaborated on public and large scale projects for several years, with each artist contributing to both the design and fabrication of the artworks.  They enjoy the collaborative process, a form of generation all its own, as a counterpoint to long solitary hours of studio time.

As a team, Hester and Spencer have completed works of art for Camp Aranzazu in Rockport, Texas, the Houston Arts Alliance, the City of Houston, Silver Eagle Distributing, Cool Globes, Talento Bilingue of Houston and several individuals.  Their joint projects have ranged from residential to civic art commissions, including the recently installed sculptures at Flores Neighborhood Library.  The artists have enjoyed long solo careers as well.  Hester owns Genesis Art Glass Studios in the upper Kirby area and Spencer develops her solo work at Mother Dog Studios in the Downtown Houston warehouse district.

Liz & Gene giving their talk on opening night, Saturday, February 3, 2012

January 7 - February 2, 2012

Archway Gallery presents Andiamo! , featuring the watercolors of Shirl Riccetti and the fiber 3-D structures of guest artist Peggy Sexton. The exhibition will be on view January 7, 2012 through February 2, 2012. The artists will be on hand to visit with guests during the exhibition opening reception on Saturday, January 7, 2012 from 5 – 8 pm at the gallery. Both artists will give introductory remarks and insights at 6:30pm.

Andiamo! …The Italian phrase which means "Let’s Go!” and speaks to the artists about the joy, wonder and humor of life’s special moments that is reflected in their work.

Riccetti’s lighthearted paintings tap into her travels across Europe and reflect the color and culture of everyday scenes in these locales. The exhibition will feature people and architecture from Riccetti’s travels, with an emphasis on vibrant colors and energy, featuring heavy lines, including contour drawing lines and heavy, dramatic bamboo brush ink lines.

Freelance artwork, calligraphy and teaching in an art enrichment program for decades have influenced Riccetti’s gallery work. She maintains professional and active memberships in organizations such as Watercolor Art Society of Houston, Visual Arts Alliance, Women in the Visual and Literary Arts and Houston Calligraphy Guild.

Sexton explores childlike images with whimsical structures. Her 3-D work presents a sophisticated style combining a “Dr. Seuss attitude” with “Spirit Houses.” Each piece explodes with color, texture and design.

Her art appreciation of nature and interest in cultural history is demonstrated through her art work. Drawn by a fascination with rich color, luxurious texture, pattern and form, sculpted surface design has become her passion. She is committed to an artistic process that celebrates creativity and the uniqueness achievable only through imperfection and artistic fallibility.

Opening reception artist's talk with Shirl Riccetti & Peggy Sexton.