WARMTH

Stir it Up by Walt Pascoe

For the past couple of months I have been wearing my curator's hat. Having worked as curator for ArtBomb for 16 months I became acquainted with many Montreal artists and their diverse artworks.

Preview of Tremblant Exhibition

This is the launching of my new store as well as the online preview for the upcoming exhibition at Galerie 806 in Mont-Tremblant, QC which opens December 19th and runs until January 15th, 2014.
This exhibition is a celebration of an amazing year; meeting new people, traveling to new places and discovering the endless potential of this planet to reveal her beauty in new and invigorating ways. I am humbled and awed by the process of painting and the magical, mystery tour it continually takes me on. I feel it to be a great privilege to live this world as a painter. The paints not only guide my heart & hands but opens my eyes to marvels I would never have even noticed were I not stopping and taking the time to look as is necessary when making a painting.

A Pop Up Gallery in the Adirondacks

My favorite way to exhibit lately is through "Pop Up" galleries in private homes, offices and various other venues. I was able to stage my most successful exhibit to date in the beautiful Adirondack style home of Marsha and Tom on Lake Saranac. I was fortunate enough to be their guest for a whole glorious week, during which time we created a gallery for viewing my work by placing the paintings throughout their home. The paintings felt entirely at home there and judging by how many were sold over the week-end the community felt the same way. It was almost a sold out show! I am most grateful for having had this wonderful opportunity to exhibit my paintings and meet the community of Saranac Lake.

Flanking the Birch Bark lined front door were my two diptychs from "The Wilderness WIthin" series.

The paintings seemed to have a natural affinity for the Adirondacks.

"Primal Source 2" in the entry hall as you walked in the front door.

A particularly grand location on the great mantle of the main fireplace.

A selection of my books and cards for people to browse.

A small painting done the previous evening as the super moon rose above Lake Saranac.

"Weaving Roots of Time", the signature piece of "The Wilderness Within" series was purchased by Tom and Marsha at the original View show in Old Forge. It was a joy to see it hung in such a prominent place throughout the "Pop Up" Gallery event.

"The Wilderness Within" Exhbition in the Adirondacks

 Another journey across the border and down south into NY state brought me to the idyllic little town of Old Forge, NY. where I was hosted by a particularly kind couple that live in the area. Their beautiful home was nestled next to this lovely lake where I saw ducks, loons and herons while I was there.

 I was treated to a fine dinner, good morning coffee, a campfire and a comfy bed, as well as several visits to local establishments to meet with the community and listen to local lore, music and tales.

Old Forge, NY is a warm and welcoming community with particular spirit and spark! The View Center for the Arts is a stunning establishment that hosts some superb art shows and it is an honor to have my work on exhibit there for the next month.

 

"Nature as Muse" - bronze sculpture by Lewis Bryden in front of the View Arts Center.

 

The interim curator, Wendy Carr did a magnificent job of hanging the show. I am always delighted and surprised when a curator hangs the paintings in ways that may not have occurred to me. The show looked beautiful and it was a joy to have the time to meet so many delightful members of the community while all the hanging of the show was being done for me.

 

When I arrived for the opening reception the director informed me that this piece, "Weaving Roots of Time" had been sold before I had even arrived! I was thrilled of course, as this is a piece that has a lot of meaning for me. You can read about the whole evolution of this painting and the others that followed beginning with my blog post from April 15, 2010.

The triptych has found its perfect home with people who will live with and appreciate all the love and discovery that was poured into the creation of this particular painting. I feel the cycle of an artwork is only complete when it finds a viewer who resonates with it enough to bring it into their lives and home. I also feel a pang that "Weaving Roots of Time" will be leaving me, as it is particularly close to my heart but it is going out into the world to have a life of its own now.

 The exhibition will continue until July 21st in this gorgeous venu amongst the dark pines and fresh mountain air. I feel like the paintings are being held within a space that embraces and holds them with love and recognition and this feels so good to me.