Archway Gallery Exhibitions - 2020
December 5, 2020 - January 7, 2021
Resonance
Featuring New Woven Artworks by Laura Viada
Laura Viada’s first solo exhibition at Archway Gallery explores the theme of “resonance," as both a physical phenomenon and as an emotional, transcendent component of human creativity. Laura is an artist who works in the medium of fiber, primarily as a handweaver. Using linen, silk, cotton, and metallic threads as her “paints” she creates visually complex artworks using the simple elements of basic geometric form and the interaction of color.
Resonance occurs when one object is vibrating at the same natural frequency as a second object and pushes that second object into vibrational motion. It is both a cause and a quality of sound in musical instruments, and the phenomenon by which color is perceived. When an object’s natural vibrational frequency matches that of a point on the visible spectrum, light waves hitting the object cause that frequency to be reflected. Laura has long studied and explored the way the human eyes and brain receive and interpret those reflected frequencies as specific color, and how they blend color through a process known as optical mixing. The artworks in this exhibition all reflect that exploration.
When we are moved or inspired by something – a speech, a poem, an image, a piece of music – we often say that it “resonates” with us. It has touched us and evoked an emotional response. This exhibition is Laura’s homage to the three artists whose lives and work have most resonated with her – who have touched her and inspired her to respond in her own creative language: Josef Albers, Anni Albers, and Carlos Cruz Diez. Each piece in this exhibition is dedicated to one of these three artists.
This exhibition is presented in conjunction with 32@32, a series of concerts celebrating the 250th birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven, with pianist Adam Golka. Adam, 32 years old, will perform the full cycle of Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas over a series of recitals in the gallery during the month of December. This event’s coinciding with her first solo show at Archway, inspired Laura to explore “resonance” as a theme. “My earliest memories involve Beethoven’s symphonies,” Laura recalls. “My mother played them constantly on our record player. I could identify the symphonies before I could walk, and have been told that I did so, rather imperiously, from my highchair! To say that Beethoven’s music resonates with me is an understatement. To this day he is by far my favorite composer and I never tire of his music, no matter how many times I’ve heard a particular piece.” In addition to being dedicated to a specific artist, each piece in this exhibition bears a title referencing the music and Adam’s performances. The goal is to create a complete and cohesive artistic experience.
Laura Viada is a handweaver and fiber artist who creates works of art in natural fibers and metallics. While taking a pause from a demanding career in law, she discovered weaving, fell in love with the world of fiber and never looked back. For the past 25 years, Laura has been an active member of Texas’ fiber art community. Her work has been exhibited nationally and has won numerous awards. In 2008, she spent 9 months as an Artist-in-Residence at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft and served on the Center’s Artist-in Residence Selection Panel from 2013 to 2015. Laura joined Archway Gallery in December 2017. This is her first solo exhibition at Archway.
Resonance occurs when one object is vibrating at the same natural frequency as a second object and pushes that second object into vibrational motion. It is both a cause and a quality of sound in musical instruments, and the phenomenon by which color is perceived. When an object’s natural vibrational frequency matches that of a point on the visible spectrum, light waves hitting the object cause that frequency to be reflected. Laura has long studied and explored the way the human eyes and brain receive and interpret those reflected frequencies as specific color, and how they blend color through a process known as optical mixing. The artworks in this exhibition all reflect that exploration.
When we are moved or inspired by something – a speech, a poem, an image, a piece of music – we often say that it “resonates” with us. It has touched us and evoked an emotional response. This exhibition is Laura’s homage to the three artists whose lives and work have most resonated with her – who have touched her and inspired her to respond in her own creative language: Josef Albers, Anni Albers, and Carlos Cruz Diez. Each piece in this exhibition is dedicated to one of these three artists.
This exhibition is presented in conjunction with 32@32, a series of concerts celebrating the 250th birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven, with pianist Adam Golka. Adam, 32 years old, will perform the full cycle of Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas over a series of recitals in the gallery during the month of December. This event’s coinciding with her first solo show at Archway, inspired Laura to explore “resonance” as a theme. “My earliest memories involve Beethoven’s symphonies,” Laura recalls. “My mother played them constantly on our record player. I could identify the symphonies before I could walk, and have been told that I did so, rather imperiously, from my highchair! To say that Beethoven’s music resonates with me is an understatement. To this day he is by far my favorite composer and I never tire of his music, no matter how many times I’ve heard a particular piece.” In addition to being dedicated to a specific artist, each piece in this exhibition bears a title referencing the music and Adam’s performances. The goal is to create a complete and cohesive artistic experience.
Laura Viada is a handweaver and fiber artist who creates works of art in natural fibers and metallics. While taking a pause from a demanding career in law, she discovered weaving, fell in love with the world of fiber and never looked back. For the past 25 years, Laura has been an active member of Texas’ fiber art community. Her work has been exhibited nationally and has won numerous awards. In 2008, she spent 9 months as an Artist-in-Residence at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft and served on the Center’s Artist-in Residence Selection Panel from 2013 to 2015. Laura joined Archway Gallery in December 2017. This is her first solo exhibition at Archway.
November 7 - December 3, 2020
What Shapes Us
Featuring New Sculptures by Tracey Meyer
Tracey Meyer’s third solo exhibition, and her first at Archway Gallery, is a sculptural exploration of the complexity of life. Meyer employs rag paper, wood, and ceramic to create sculptures which each represent an imagined individual’s existence. Momentous or calamitous events are represented by the physical shaping of the whole sculptural form. Each cut and bend in the artwork represents a decision in that person’s story, a response to an experience, or a choice that had to be made. The cut apertures in the sculpture portray a physical manifestation of the life’s reaction to its experiences.
The resulting artwork portrays the non-linear nature of an individual’s journey, and how it is made up of many experiences -- large and small, easy and difficult. Whether the life appears relatively tranquil or rather tumultuous, the work exposes the internal dialogue that shapes it. This exhibition asks the viewer to consider more deeply the hidden challenges that others experience, and to re-examine the complexity of existence in general.
Meyer’s intention is to make artwork that is interesting, intriguing, and pleasing to the eye. She takes her time creating each piece. First, she draws and cuts the medium, pondering and considering the path of the imagined life before her. Then she begins the contemplative and difficult part of the process, bending and shaping the medium to reflect the ebb and flow of events in that journey. When she bends each individual cut within the artwork, she is representing the reaction to an experience or choice. The sculpture is usually then painted and, lastly, placed on its support. The reflections and shadows cast on the support tell the rest of the life’s story. They portray the outcomes of new opportunities presented to the individual, demonstrating how past experiences can still shape their lives.
The resulting artwork portrays the non-linear nature of an individual’s journey, and how it is made up of many experiences -- large and small, easy and difficult. Whether the life appears relatively tranquil or rather tumultuous, the work exposes the internal dialogue that shapes it. This exhibition asks the viewer to consider more deeply the hidden challenges that others experience, and to re-examine the complexity of existence in general.
Meyer’s intention is to make artwork that is interesting, intriguing, and pleasing to the eye. She takes her time creating each piece. First, she draws and cuts the medium, pondering and considering the path of the imagined life before her. Then she begins the contemplative and difficult part of the process, bending and shaping the medium to reflect the ebb and flow of events in that journey. When she bends each individual cut within the artwork, she is representing the reaction to an experience or choice. The sculpture is usually then painted and, lastly, placed on its support. The reflections and shadows cast on the support tell the rest of the life’s story. They portray the outcomes of new opportunities presented to the individual, demonstrating how past experiences can still shape their lives.
October 3 - November 5, 2020
Diverse-City, An Ode to Houston
Featuring New Photographs by Isabelle Perreau
Virtual Exhibition Walk-Through and Artists' Talk
Premieres Saturday, Oct 3 at 6:15 p.m.
When Isabelle Perreau first “met” Houston twenty years ago, she was not seduced by its beauty. Instead, she recalls, “I saw scary highways, like the tentacles of a gigantic octopus, and ugly buildings juxtaposed without harmony, the immensity of the town, and the suffocating weather.” Her first impressions of our city were colored by her personal frame of reference which was of Paris, France, one of the world’s most beautiful and culturally rich cities.
But, Perreau was undaunted. Ever the curious traveler, she donned her “explorer’s outfit,” and began to get acquainted with her new city, neighborhood by neighborhood. As she did so, she was surprised to discover a fascinating, multi-faceted city – “a big lady with many different faces.” Along Houston’s streets, Perreau found the whole world united -- colorful India, fragrant China, joyful Latin America, and expansive Africa. “It was like traveling without having to take the plane!” she recounts. Under Houston’s inhospitable shell, Perreau discovered its irresistible charm, it’s diversity, and the deep wealth of its intertwined cultures. “I was conquered and fell in love,” she exclaims. “I embraced my new hometown from the bottom of my heart.”
Perreau’s exploration is not finished. “Houston doesn’t reveal herself all at once,” she explains. “You need to be curious, open, and enthusiastic to tame her. She is in a perpetual transformation, reinventing herself at every minute. She is an adventure!” This exhibition from Isabelle Perreau is a tribute to her adopted home. “It’s a love letter to Houston -- a ‘photographic ode.’ She deserves it!”
Perreau’s work in this exhibition is a reflection of her deep belief that Houston’s diversity and international character is the source of its strength and richness. “Houston is the most diverse city in the United States,” she notes. “This, of course, is the result of immigration.” Perreau sees Houston as a shining example of a multitude of nationalities and religions living together in respect, solidarity, and friendship. “It’s a human lesson for everyone that, with decency and respect, peace is possible.”
In these unsettled times, "Unity in Diversity" is more important than ever. The City of Houston is a successful example of many diverse communities coexisting in peace and cooperation and, as such, it is a window into our planet's future. With accelerated developments in science, communication, travel and technology, the world has become smaller and more accessible to people from every corner of the world. Races and nationalities meet and mix, actually and virtually. We discover and embrace each other. Love has no borders!
Whether we welcome it or not, diversity is now the norm. Attempts to deny or stop the direction of human history will prove futile. Diversity, besides being an invaluable source of richness, IS the future and unity is the only path to progress.
But, Perreau was undaunted. Ever the curious traveler, she donned her “explorer’s outfit,” and began to get acquainted with her new city, neighborhood by neighborhood. As she did so, she was surprised to discover a fascinating, multi-faceted city – “a big lady with many different faces.” Along Houston’s streets, Perreau found the whole world united -- colorful India, fragrant China, joyful Latin America, and expansive Africa. “It was like traveling without having to take the plane!” she recounts. Under Houston’s inhospitable shell, Perreau discovered its irresistible charm, it’s diversity, and the deep wealth of its intertwined cultures. “I was conquered and fell in love,” she exclaims. “I embraced my new hometown from the bottom of my heart.”
Perreau’s exploration is not finished. “Houston doesn’t reveal herself all at once,” she explains. “You need to be curious, open, and enthusiastic to tame her. She is in a perpetual transformation, reinventing herself at every minute. She is an adventure!” This exhibition from Isabelle Perreau is a tribute to her adopted home. “It’s a love letter to Houston -- a ‘photographic ode.’ She deserves it!”
Perreau’s work in this exhibition is a reflection of her deep belief that Houston’s diversity and international character is the source of its strength and richness. “Houston is the most diverse city in the United States,” she notes. “This, of course, is the result of immigration.” Perreau sees Houston as a shining example of a multitude of nationalities and religions living together in respect, solidarity, and friendship. “It’s a human lesson for everyone that, with decency and respect, peace is possible.”
In these unsettled times, "Unity in Diversity" is more important than ever. The City of Houston is a successful example of many diverse communities coexisting in peace and cooperation and, as such, it is a window into our planet's future. With accelerated developments in science, communication, travel and technology, the world has become smaller and more accessible to people from every corner of the world. Races and nationalities meet and mix, actually and virtually. We discover and embrace each other. Love has no borders!
Whether we welcome it or not, diversity is now the norm. Attempts to deny or stop the direction of human history will prove futile. Diversity, besides being an invaluable source of richness, IS the future and unity is the only path to progress.
September 5 - October 1, 2020
Reinvention
Featuring New Works by Barbara Able and Daniel Able
Virtual Exhibition Walk-Through and Artists' Talk
Barbara Able’s new body of work is a series of paintings and collages that emphasize the resilience of our community in the face of unprecedented hardships. The works were created in response to the strife of COVID-19, which has been one of the most disruptive events in recent history. Many lives have been uprooted and likely will never return to normal.
Barbara has returned to figurative work after 10 years of working on abstract paintings and collages. According to
the artist, “The social distancing has created a need for the return of the figure in my artwork to make the human
connection. I found myself using the art not so much to push boundaries but to soothe and comfort me.”
This is Barbara’s fourth show at Archway Gallery, where she has been a resident artist since 2013. She has a B.F.A.
in studio art from the University of Texas and has done post-graduate studies at Art League Houston and privately
with nationally known artists.
Daniel Able’s series of work attempts to follow the emotional arc that he went through during this crisis. His first piece is called Reduction and is a depiction of a dear friend who passed away. It uses multiple layers fading out as they recede into the background. This is used to symbolize life fading; not only the fading of a friend but also the fading away of the day-to-day routine that Daniel was accustomed to. In a time when acquiring paint and canvas has become more difficult, Daniel decided to create his works digitally. This exemplifies what can grow out of necessity and brings us to his next piece, Rachel, a digitally produced portrait of his girlfriend. This vibrant painting represents her willingness to adapt to any situation and the confidence to overcome adversity. Daniel attended Lamar High School and graduated from the University of Colorado with a B.S. in Business. He currently lives in Denver and works in finance with an international company.
Barbara has returned to figurative work after 10 years of working on abstract paintings and collages. According to
the artist, “The social distancing has created a need for the return of the figure in my artwork to make the human
connection. I found myself using the art not so much to push boundaries but to soothe and comfort me.”
This is Barbara’s fourth show at Archway Gallery, where she has been a resident artist since 2013. She has a B.F.A.
in studio art from the University of Texas and has done post-graduate studies at Art League Houston and privately
with nationally known artists.
Daniel Able’s series of work attempts to follow the emotional arc that he went through during this crisis. His first piece is called Reduction and is a depiction of a dear friend who passed away. It uses multiple layers fading out as they recede into the background. This is used to symbolize life fading; not only the fading of a friend but also the fading away of the day-to-day routine that Daniel was accustomed to. In a time when acquiring paint and canvas has become more difficult, Daniel decided to create his works digitally. This exemplifies what can grow out of necessity and brings us to his next piece, Rachel, a digitally produced portrait of his girlfriend. This vibrant painting represents her willingness to adapt to any situation and the confidence to overcome adversity. Daniel attended Lamar High School and graduated from the University of Colorado with a B.S. in Business. He currently lives in Denver and works in finance with an international company.
August 1 - September 3, 2020
Roots to Revolution
Featuring New Paintings by Mohammad Ali Bhatti
“Painting for me is like composing a symphony,” says Mohammad Ali Bhatti. “Color, textures, forms and shapes are my instruments of creativity.” Mohammad’s latest series of paintings is deeply inspired by mysticism and the connections between divinity and mankind in the modern world. He draws on the energy around him in creating his paintings, making intuitive responses to the variable sounds, melodies, rhythms, and textures in the classical music he listens to while painting. “I believe that the creative process is an intuitive and spontaneous activity,” Mohammad explains. “I approach the canvas with an idea, a concept, or a theme that inspires me to begin with random marks and shapes.” His abstract paintings strive to blend sound and the seen world by creating an interplay of small and large shapes, multiple layering of contrasting colors, and the appearance and disappearance of abstract elements that float in neutral space.
This series of paintings reveals an inseparable connection between shapes and colors, guiding the viewer around each whole painting. Contrasting layers are applied with a bold brush creating multiple forms and vague references (ambiguous symbols, calligraphic forms, numbers) suggesting contemporary conflict, confusion, and the chaotic condition of the world. Complexity of design occurs spontaneously and intuitively in the painting process; layering, overlapping, and juxtaposing forms, signs, and symbols into an interplay of movement and energy. “My ultimate goal,” Mohammad concludes, “is to offer the viewer a creation that captures the attention and expands the imagination.” In addition to his recent works, Mohammad will also be displaying some of his portraits, watercolors, and Southwestern paintings.
Dr. Mohammad Ali Bhatti is an accomplished contemporary expressionist painter, who concentrates on themes that are inspired by the mysticism, people, and current social issues around him. Born and raised in Pakistan, he attended local art institutions in his native country at an early age; subsequently, he travelled to the United States and earned an MFA from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a PhD in Interdisciplinary Arts from Ohio University, Athens, in 1998. In his early career, he was inclined toward figurative art and became a competent portrait artist. Gradually, his fascination with contemporary abstract expressionism led to inspiration by mysticism, fantasy, and current socio political conditions. For the last 30 years, he has painted and exhibited around the world with 35 solo exhibitions. His work is unique and is collected world-wide.
The visual interest in his paintings is heightened by multiple layers of acrylic, oil, resins, spray paint, randomly torn magazine and book pages, design patterns, and calligraphic elements which help him to create rich imagery. He utilizes intense vibrant colors applied in bold strokes which enable him to generate an exciting character to his canvases. Mohammad’s art is a synthesis of his aesthetic sensibility and metaphysical versatility, a powerful expression of pride and vitality. This combination becomes a vehicle which allows him to explore interplay of exotic forms and shapes with freedom. His distinctive style, combination of subject matter, bold comparisons, and intense color is instantly recognizable; collectors throughout the United States as well as abroad value and prize his work. Mohammad lives in Houston, Texas and is associated with the Watercolor Art Society of Houston, AO5 Gallery in Austin, and artist-owned Archway Gallery in Houston. He currently teaches a variety of art classes, using a combination of demonstration and hands-on instruction, and has a large committed following of students. Visit his website: www.artistmohammadali.com.
This series of paintings reveals an inseparable connection between shapes and colors, guiding the viewer around each whole painting. Contrasting layers are applied with a bold brush creating multiple forms and vague references (ambiguous symbols, calligraphic forms, numbers) suggesting contemporary conflict, confusion, and the chaotic condition of the world. Complexity of design occurs spontaneously and intuitively in the painting process; layering, overlapping, and juxtaposing forms, signs, and symbols into an interplay of movement and energy. “My ultimate goal,” Mohammad concludes, “is to offer the viewer a creation that captures the attention and expands the imagination.” In addition to his recent works, Mohammad will also be displaying some of his portraits, watercolors, and Southwestern paintings.
Dr. Mohammad Ali Bhatti is an accomplished contemporary expressionist painter, who concentrates on themes that are inspired by the mysticism, people, and current social issues around him. Born and raised in Pakistan, he attended local art institutions in his native country at an early age; subsequently, he travelled to the United States and earned an MFA from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a PhD in Interdisciplinary Arts from Ohio University, Athens, in 1998. In his early career, he was inclined toward figurative art and became a competent portrait artist. Gradually, his fascination with contemporary abstract expressionism led to inspiration by mysticism, fantasy, and current socio political conditions. For the last 30 years, he has painted and exhibited around the world with 35 solo exhibitions. His work is unique and is collected world-wide.
The visual interest in his paintings is heightened by multiple layers of acrylic, oil, resins, spray paint, randomly torn magazine and book pages, design patterns, and calligraphic elements which help him to create rich imagery. He utilizes intense vibrant colors applied in bold strokes which enable him to generate an exciting character to his canvases. Mohammad’s art is a synthesis of his aesthetic sensibility and metaphysical versatility, a powerful expression of pride and vitality. This combination becomes a vehicle which allows him to explore interplay of exotic forms and shapes with freedom. His distinctive style, combination of subject matter, bold comparisons, and intense color is instantly recognizable; collectors throughout the United States as well as abroad value and prize his work. Mohammad lives in Houston, Texas and is associated with the Watercolor Art Society of Houston, AO5 Gallery in Austin, and artist-owned Archway Gallery in Houston. He currently teaches a variety of art classes, using a combination of demonstration and hands-on instruction, and has a large committed following of students. Visit his website: www.artistmohammadali.com.
May 2 - July 1, 2020
Fusion 2
Featuring New Works in Wood, Metal, and Glass by Robert L. Straight
This exhibition from Robert L. Straight showcases his proficiency in many media, including glass, wood, and different metal processes such as welding, forging and casting. Some works may include as many as four different materials and processes.
“I am a process-led artist,” Straight explains. He usually begins with a mental image of a piece; once the piece takes shape in his mind, he begins the “fusion” process, combining glass, wood, and metal. “The process frequently drives the development of the piece. Sometimes I begin by just putting different elements and materials together, and an
idea will arise from that process. ”
Straight’s unique voice has evolved over many years and experiences. After receiving a diploma in Industrial Arts from Milby High School, one of Houston’s original four high schools, Straight went to work in a cabinet shop, and eventually worked in a foundry pattern shop. “Because I made foundry patterns for many years, I learned to think in 3D,” he says. “The images in my mind’s eye are like blueprints that I use to make sculptures from the materials I find in my studio.”
While working at the foundry, Straight began taking art and jewelry-making classes with Bill Steffy at the Museum of Fine Arts School of Art, now known as the Glassell School. This led to his creating custom jewelry and opening his own studio. As an avid scuba diver and instructor, Straight incorporated his love of the sea into his jewelry designs; his “Sea Symbols” have been collected by scuba divers around the world and he has designed many awards for the diving elite.
After by-pass surgery in 2004, Straight decided to complete his education. He received a Certificate of Completion from the Glassell School, an associate degree in Fine Arts from Houston Community College, a BFA from the University of Houston, and his MFA from Houston Baptist University in 2016.
Robert L. Straight has had a studio in the Hobby area for over 50 years. He works 4 - 5 hours every day fusing glass, metal, and wood objects into 3D sculptures. He has been represented by Archway Gallery since 2019.
“I am a process-led artist,” Straight explains. He usually begins with a mental image of a piece; once the piece takes shape in his mind, he begins the “fusion” process, combining glass, wood, and metal. “The process frequently drives the development of the piece. Sometimes I begin by just putting different elements and materials together, and an
idea will arise from that process. ”
Straight’s unique voice has evolved over many years and experiences. After receiving a diploma in Industrial Arts from Milby High School, one of Houston’s original four high schools, Straight went to work in a cabinet shop, and eventually worked in a foundry pattern shop. “Because I made foundry patterns for many years, I learned to think in 3D,” he says. “The images in my mind’s eye are like blueprints that I use to make sculptures from the materials I find in my studio.”
While working at the foundry, Straight began taking art and jewelry-making classes with Bill Steffy at the Museum of Fine Arts School of Art, now known as the Glassell School. This led to his creating custom jewelry and opening his own studio. As an avid scuba diver and instructor, Straight incorporated his love of the sea into his jewelry designs; his “Sea Symbols” have been collected by scuba divers around the world and he has designed many awards for the diving elite.
After by-pass surgery in 2004, Straight decided to complete his education. He received a Certificate of Completion from the Glassell School, an associate degree in Fine Arts from Houston Community College, a BFA from the University of Houston, and his MFA from Houston Baptist University in 2016.
Robert L. Straight has had a studio in the Hobby area for over 50 years. He works 4 - 5 hours every day fusing glass, metal, and wood objects into 3D sculptures. He has been represented by Archway Gallery since 2019.
March 7 - April 30, 2020
Mostly Water, Some Rock
Featuring Photography by Artist Larry Garmezy
In Participation with FotoFest 2020
Given the new circumstances we find ourselves, please contact the gallery for a private viewing of the show
([email protected]). The work in the slideshow above represents the framed and hang-ready pieces in the front-space of the gallery. The prices are for these works. Smaller 18 x 24 prints of these limited edition works can be found at the Archway gallery store, a click away at the top of this page. Thank you for taking a look, and sorry about the inconvenience.
This exhibition, like Garmezy’s previous solo shows, is shaped by his early adventures as a geologist. Through this filter he observes and captures the unique and subtle patterns and textures hidden in the details of nature’s recesses. Mostly Water, Some Rock chronicles what he finds visually and intellectually intriguing in the natural world. Understanding the physical processes that create patterns in nature allows Garmezy to capture unusual impressions and abstractions of the visual landscape.
This exhibition focuses on two realms: water and rock. Photographing the same natural springs over many years, Garmezy finds that, like snowflakes, no two images are the same. The constant is the incredible interplay of light with surface ripples and the extraordinary palette of colors from plants beneath the surface. Varying the time of exposure creates a further abstraction of the scene. This fluid environment is ideal for the photographic art form. While the human eye can see the motion created by the upwelling of water, it takes a mechanical shutter to “freeze” the scene, revealing the composition’s unique beauty. Likewise, a close-up of a rock cliff face brings the intricate interplay of fracture patterns to life. Their growth leaves a subtle and beautiful record. The common thread between these two realms is the patterns created by the distortion of light, shape, and color formed either by ripples in a spring or the convoluted fracturing of a cliff face.
Although raised in the flat plains of Minnesota, Garmezy’s fondest childhood memories began in the mountain states of the west. “To this day, I can close my eyes and return to every mountain range, valley, stream, or snowfield I have traversed over the past 50 years,” he says. Garmezy attended Amherst College, in the mountains of central Massachusetts and graduate school in geology at Penn State, in the mountains of central Pennsylvania. He retired from Shell Oil after a 32-year career traveling the globe.
A life-long photographer, Garmezy’s art career began in earnest in 2007. His work has been in several juried shows across the U.S. and Europe, in addition to the work hanging in homes, offices and public spaces across the U.S and Great Britain. Two pieces from this show have been published in Spotlight Contemporary Art Magazine. Garmezy is a member of the Houston Center for Photography and the Houston Visual Arts Alliance. This is his fourth solo show since becoming an Archway Gallery resident artist in 2011.
About
([email protected]). The work in the slideshow above represents the framed and hang-ready pieces in the front-space of the gallery. The prices are for these works. Smaller 18 x 24 prints of these limited edition works can be found at the Archway gallery store, a click away at the top of this page. Thank you for taking a look, and sorry about the inconvenience.
This exhibition, like Garmezy’s previous solo shows, is shaped by his early adventures as a geologist. Through this filter he observes and captures the unique and subtle patterns and textures hidden in the details of nature’s recesses. Mostly Water, Some Rock chronicles what he finds visually and intellectually intriguing in the natural world. Understanding the physical processes that create patterns in nature allows Garmezy to capture unusual impressions and abstractions of the visual landscape.
This exhibition focuses on two realms: water and rock. Photographing the same natural springs over many years, Garmezy finds that, like snowflakes, no two images are the same. The constant is the incredible interplay of light with surface ripples and the extraordinary palette of colors from plants beneath the surface. Varying the time of exposure creates a further abstraction of the scene. This fluid environment is ideal for the photographic art form. While the human eye can see the motion created by the upwelling of water, it takes a mechanical shutter to “freeze” the scene, revealing the composition’s unique beauty. Likewise, a close-up of a rock cliff face brings the intricate interplay of fracture patterns to life. Their growth leaves a subtle and beautiful record. The common thread between these two realms is the patterns created by the distortion of light, shape, and color formed either by ripples in a spring or the convoluted fracturing of a cliff face.
Although raised in the flat plains of Minnesota, Garmezy’s fondest childhood memories began in the mountain states of the west. “To this day, I can close my eyes and return to every mountain range, valley, stream, or snowfield I have traversed over the past 50 years,” he says. Garmezy attended Amherst College, in the mountains of central Massachusetts and graduate school in geology at Penn State, in the mountains of central Pennsylvania. He retired from Shell Oil after a 32-year career traveling the globe.
A life-long photographer, Garmezy’s art career began in earnest in 2007. His work has been in several juried shows across the U.S. and Europe, in addition to the work hanging in homes, offices and public spaces across the U.S and Great Britain. Two pieces from this show have been published in Spotlight Contemporary Art Magazine. Garmezy is a member of the Houston Center for Photography and the Houston Visual Arts Alliance. This is his fourth solo show since becoming an Archway Gallery resident artist in 2011.
About
February 1 - March 5, 2020
There Is Another Garden
Featuring New Work by Sherry Tseng Hill & Mosaics by Nathan Hill
Observing that the plant world is much like the human world, embodying the duality of both opposition and contradiction, as well as balance and harmony, artists Sherry Tseng Hill and Nathan Hill investigate the nature of this duality in their works for this exhibition.
Using mosaic tile, as well as paper, paint, and other materials, each artist explores the possibilities of realism versus abstraction, of the cells that make up the whole, and of the underlying mathematical patterns. The result is a revelation that There is Another Garden, one that can seem both beautiful and strange.
Sherry Tseng Hill, an architect, also studied art history in college and has continually created art throughout her life. Her art resides in both private and public collections. Finding both spiritual renewal and creative inspirations in her garden, she is often seen wrestling weeds from her certified wildlife habitat backyard.
Nathan Hill, a teacher of English, also writes poetry, composes music, and creates mosaic artwork. Passionate about history, he especially loves studying the Byzantine empire, including its art and architecture. He is avidly fashioning his own garden into a place of solace and contemplation.
Using mosaic tile, as well as paper, paint, and other materials, each artist explores the possibilities of realism versus abstraction, of the cells that make up the whole, and of the underlying mathematical patterns. The result is a revelation that There is Another Garden, one that can seem both beautiful and strange.
Sherry Tseng Hill, an architect, also studied art history in college and has continually created art throughout her life. Her art resides in both private and public collections. Finding both spiritual renewal and creative inspirations in her garden, she is often seen wrestling weeds from her certified wildlife habitat backyard.
Nathan Hill, a teacher of English, also writes poetry, composes music, and creates mosaic artwork. Passionate about history, he especially loves studying the Byzantine empire, including its art and architecture. He is avidly fashioning his own garden into a place of solace and contemplation.
January 4 - January 30, 2020
Urban Observations
Featuring the New Collection of Encaustic Paintings by Joel Anderson
Big and bold. These words describe Houston, as well as Joel Anderson’s newest collection of works in his third show at Archway Gallery.
In this exhibition, you’ll see Houston through Anderson’s eyes -- what he sees while driving about town and taking walks through the Houston Heights. There are new perspectives on the downtown skyline which has become a signature series for Anderson, as well as things that interest him in one way or another, including the tree canopies, cellphone towers, and, yes, the gargoyles that inhabit the Bayou City.
“Preparing for this exhibition was like a treasure hunt in some ways,” says Anderson. “Where exactly does one stand to get compositionally great images of our city? Realizing I needed to get above the trees and power lines for some of the shots that I wanted, I bought a drone and became an FAA-certified drone pilot.”
Anderson continues, “I also wanted to go big in this collection, and that meant scaling everything up, from my
workspace, techniques, processes, and framing decisions, to even trading in my SUV for a van to accommodate
the bigger pieces.”
Encaustic painting -- beeswax mixed with damar resin -- was practiced by Greek artists as far back as the 5th
century B.C.E. A mid-20th century revival, including works by Diego Rivera and Jasper Johns, brought encaustic
painting back into prominence. Anderson’s creative process incorporates modern digital methods into the ancient
medium.
In this exhibition, you’ll see Houston through Anderson’s eyes -- what he sees while driving about town and taking walks through the Houston Heights. There are new perspectives on the downtown skyline which has become a signature series for Anderson, as well as things that interest him in one way or another, including the tree canopies, cellphone towers, and, yes, the gargoyles that inhabit the Bayou City.
“Preparing for this exhibition was like a treasure hunt in some ways,” says Anderson. “Where exactly does one stand to get compositionally great images of our city? Realizing I needed to get above the trees and power lines for some of the shots that I wanted, I bought a drone and became an FAA-certified drone pilot.”
Anderson continues, “I also wanted to go big in this collection, and that meant scaling everything up, from my
workspace, techniques, processes, and framing decisions, to even trading in my SUV for a van to accommodate
the bigger pieces.”
Encaustic painting -- beeswax mixed with damar resin -- was practiced by Greek artists as far back as the 5th
century B.C.E. A mid-20th century revival, including works by Diego Rivera and Jasper Johns, brought encaustic
painting back into prominence. Anderson’s creative process incorporates modern digital methods into the ancient
medium.