“Takes on Nature” opens at Lincoln Art Institute
“Comfortable art pleasing to the eye and good for the heart”

[November 10, 2014]  LINCOLN - Artist in Residence Moses Pinkerton welcomed a large crowd to the Lincoln Art Institute on the square in Lincoln for the opening reception of the latest Logan County Arts exhibition Thursday evening. Entitled “Takes on Nature: The Artists’ Views of the Great Outdoors,” the walls of the gallery are lined with paintings, sculptures, and photography that represent artists’ views of Mother Nature’s wonders.

Some of the landscapes were done in the studio from photographs of a memorable outdoor scene or from the memory of the artist. Others were representative of a style of art known as “en plein air,” a French term referring to a painting actually done in the open air. Many of the “plein air” works were done at the Creekside Center north of Lincoln. Logan County Arts held a workshop there during the grand opening several weeks ago.

Painter Margie Douglas, whose husband Mitch has several photographs in the exhibition, said she shies away from “plein air” because of the difficult of capturing an evolving vista on canvas. As artist Pamela Moriearty said, “The artist is at the mercy of the solar system when painting outside. You have to paint fast in order to get the scene that first catches your eye, otherwise it changes.”

Terry Swofford, who has been making art since he was a child, enjoys connecting with nature, and especially likes setting up his easel and canvas outside. ” Painting in the moment outside connects me with nature, and creates an emotional experience,” he said.

Kerry Rolewicz has a beautiful rendering of clouds matted in an oval frame, but she is not a fan of creating art outside. Even though her “Clouds” depicts a memorable cloud formation she saw while driving, she created the final version from memory in the studio. She prefers to take her time with a painting, and not deal with Mother Nature’s ever changing scenes. Kerry grew up just south of Chicago, and attended the prestigious Chicago Art Institute as a high school student. She enjoys finding unusual frames and then formatting her paintings to fit them. “This one was especially hard. Cutting glass in an oval to fit this frame was difficult, to say the least,” she said.

Wandering the Lincoln Art Institute gallery was a large crowd of Lincoln residents and artists. Tony Shuff, who created “September at Creekside,” remarked that “the offering of talent represented in the show is excellent. This is comfortable art that is pleasing to the eye and good for the heart. It creates a serene mood.”

“Takes on Nature” runs through December 10. The Lincoln Art Institute is open on request by calling 217-651-8355. The LAI is located on the square in downtown Lincoln at 112 S. McLean Street.

Logan County Arts draws its members from throughout Logan County. They meet monthly to discuss art, and take lessons from visiting artists, and just to enjoy each other’s company. If you enjoy making art or just like to browse leisurely through a gallery, Logan County Arts is a home for you. Moses Pinkerton has all of the information on how to become a member.

[Curt Fox]