by donald dusinberre d.dusinberre@comcast.net
Representational art can be deceptive, especially when there are no people looking back at us from the surface of the canvas. Often, an allegorical element offered by the human form is the only thing that allows the piece to linger in the brain. Without that short moment of curiosity, it’s hard to give inanimate objects a closer look, let alone a second thought. We’ve seen too many vases with pretty pink flowers to believe we should actually contemplate such mundane subject matter.
Such is the plight of landscape art. They’re usually quite picturesque but devoid of overt meaning, causing this viewer’s eyes to glaze over. I check out the paint, whether it’s thick or thin. Then, if the painting is strictly representational with no painterly abstraction, I’ll give it a squint to see if it looks real. The biggest problem with landscapes is that they often have no context, no common ground interesting enough to draw us in. The title is often the only way one can know where the image came from, and unless it’s nearby or famous, it’s nothing special.
Fogle Fine Arts & Accessories is hosting Reflections of the St. Johns, a collection of regional artists’ renderings of the mighty St. Johns River. As an exhibition and sale to benefit the St. Johns Riverkeeper, these paintings and photographs have the perfect context. A story line runs through these landscapes and gives them depth.
We all know the St. Johns River well enough to ignore, and it’s difficult to keep in mind how integral a part of our history and future the river truly is. We’re forced to be detached from the very reason our city even exists, as it’s barely visible when traveling most of our bridges (although the Matthews Bridge gives us all a terrifying view), and we definitely can’t swim in it. But the artwork displayed in Reflections reminds us of the intimate ties we have to our very unique river. We are treated to a wide array of landscapes, all of which are taken from some part of the river, be it a remote swampy tributary or the broad flat banks near the mouth. Reminding us of the St. Johns’ formidable size, many of the works are simply titled by the local name of their particular place on the river.
Seven artists have lent their vision and skill to the walls of Fogle Fine Arts. Hope Barton, Jim Draper, Jensen Hande, Molly Mabe, Gene Roberds, Rick Wagner, and Allison Watson all present their own interpretations of various niches in our local landscape. Through their work, they all convey a personal attachment to their subject matter. While one artist applies a heavy painterly touch, another creates a smooth brushless look, and yet another takes photographs. One of the most interesting aspects of the exhibition is the variety of styles brought by each artist, despite the fact that they all portray parts of the same river. No matter which you prefer, the mere presence of many styles draws attention to the universal appeal of the St. Johns River and its lasting impression on our city’s past, present, and future.
The exhibition will be on display until February 18, 2007. Visit this cohesive collection of works and other art pieces at Fogle Fine Arts & Accessories, 3312 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida, 32207. Also, learn more about the St. Johns Riverkeeper and their efforts to protect our important natural resource by visiting the exhibit or their website at www.stjohnsriverkeeper.org.
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