Arts for ACT Gallery & Boutique is featuring the impressionism of artist Pat Dunn in February. The exhibition opens February 1, with a reception from 6-10 p.m. that is coextensive with Art Walk.
There is a grand, Old World quality to Pat Dunn's impressionism. Viewed salon-style as a cohesive collection, Dunn's paintings transport the viewer to 19th century France. It's an endearing carryover from the days she spent painting with Gale Bennett at Art Study Giverny, the longest-operating artists' workshop in France, where painters and photographers of all levels are afforded the unparalleled opportunity of working daily in Monet's Garden and sites throughout Normandy made famous by both French and American Impressionist painters.
Standing an easel where the pioneers of impressionism first taught the world to see differently has unquestionably instilled in Dunn a sense of place and history that flavors her art. But it has also imbued Dunn's expression of the genre with a pervasive sense of joy and celebration. Each canvas reflects the unbridled pleasure she derives from the smell of the paint, the expressiveness of her palette and the sound of a brush moving across the nubs of a freshly-primed canvas.
Each composition represents one more chance to appreciate the beauty of God’s creation in the guise of sun-bursting skies, silent shadows, gentle sea breezes, overcast mornings, dancing waters and the vibrant colors of a simple garden.
"Dunn enjoys capturing pensive moments of people discovering the beauty of our world whether in a gallery or on the sea shore," notes Arts for ACT in the press release announcing the exhibit. "These are the sensations that drive Pat to the canvas. Nature is her studio and beckons her to seek the ever changing light and colors that always excites the working artist. She finds that it is more fascinating to observe the expression of beauty in the simple things of life. Pat enjoys seeking the sensitive quality of what she feels rather than what she sees. Painting to her is more than recording the visual moment but more what she feels in her heart and soul."
Pat's work has been exhibited throughout Southwest Florida, from Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Sanibel and Useppa Island to Sarasota, as well as in Giverny, France. But Pat's life has not always been linked to art. She moved from Louisiana to Florida after a career in the medical field, and she has since been transplanted to Tennessee, where her love for the expression of light and color will be a vital part of her artistic exploration and expression, no matter where she sets up her easel.
Painting is her passion, pursued with a great desire to glorify her Creator.
Arts for ACT Gallery provides a quality, contemporary exhibition gallery featuring original art, limited edition prints, giclees, hand-crafted fine crafts, tee shirts, silver and glass bead jewelry, gourd art, raku, clay, and art cards. It is a “must see” destination for all art lovers and collectors, providing a unique opportunity for everyone to learn and enjoy art.
Highlighting the art of the current featured artist, the front gallery, reminiscent of galleries in SoHo, has 12 to 16 foot high ceilings, distressed brick walls, and warm wooden floors. It is a great venue in which to meet the featured artists, enjoy some local food and have a glass of wine, and engage in lively artful repartee.
Arts for ACT is located at 2265 First Street, in the century-old Arcade Building in the heart of the downtown Fort Myers River District. For more information, please visit www.artsforactgallery.com or telephone 239-337-5050.
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