Archway Gallery
Upcoming Exhibition Calendar
Upcoming Exhibition Calendar
Opening receptions are usually the first Saturday of each month, with some possible exceptions due to holidays. All receptions are from 5 to 8 p.m.
September 5 - October 1, 2020
Reinvention
Featuring New Works by Barbara Able and Daniel Able
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.
October 3 - November 5, 2020
Diverse-City, An Ode to Houston
Featuring New Photographs by Isabelle Perreau
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.”
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.”