Ancient Ways opens January 17 at Naples' Gardner Colby Gallery. The group exhibition features contemporary works created by artists John Schuyler, Ran Adler, and Claire McArdle such as weaving, beading, chiseling, fresco, terra sigillata, and sgrafitto using marble, plaster, pigment, terra cotta and elements from nature.
Adler creates assemblages, a term that refers to 2D and free-standing sculptural artworks pieced together from found objects. Most art historians point to Degas’ Little Dancer Aged 14 as the first example of an assemblage. In an attempt to achieve greater realism, Degas added a real muslin skirt and hair ribbon to this bronze sculpture. But in truth, the Greeks painted and decorated their sculptures, and there is evidence that the Venus de Milo was painted and bejeweled with tiaras, earrings, necklaces and bracelets.
For his assemblages, Adler wires together horsetail reeds and mahogany pods which he then builds powerful, towering sculptural pieces possessed of an earthy, organic sensibility.
This is Gardner Colby’s third season representing John Schuyler, whose transitional works appeal to a broad spectrum of their clients. Ironically, while his work is based on old world techniques – fresco and scraffito - John’s richly textured and deeply colored mixed media work is somewhat contemporary in feel and look.
Plaster is applied to the canvas by hand, shovel or trowel to build up the surface. Then pigment is infused into the wet plaster so that the color becomes part of the texture, rather than being applied on top of it. The surface is then scraped and sanded (scraffito) for a final work that has wonderful luminosity and depth of color.
Claire McArdle is an internationally recognized sculptor. She grew up in the Washington
DC metro area. Her regular trips to the national museums exposed her to a wide range of sculpture from around the world at any early age. While her style has been influenced by classical figures and the soul that speaks within tribal art, her figures emerge from her own personal mythology and archetypes, a boundless energy for exploring these mysteries, and an insatiable passion for working with stone, clay, and bronze.
Gardner Colby is one of Naples premier contemporary art galleries. It represents roughly four dozen artists whose works span a wide range of genres and mediums. However, the gallery’s primary focus is on realism, impressionism and abstract works of art, as well as a number of significant representational sculptures including the large scale works of Tim Brown, which are made of powder coated forged steel.
The gallery is holding a reception for its artists from 5:30-7:30 p.m. All are welcome at the opening, but the gallery requests that you RSVP by telephoning 239-403-7787 or messaging the gallery at art@gardnercolbygallery.com. For more information, please visit www.gardnercolbygallery.com.
The show will remain on view through January 28.
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