| Two Special Shows Open at Cooley |
By: Published 11/19/09
|
|
"Peonies" by Laura Coombs Hills is the signature painting in an exhibition of the artist's work opening this Saturday at The Cooley Gallery.
The Cooley Gallery is hosting an opening reception from 1 to 7 p.m. for two shows this Saturday. The public is welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served.
The first, Laura Coombs Hills (1859-1952): Portraits from my Garden, is the largest solo exhibition and sale of Hills’ floral pastels in nearly seven decades. The exhibition continues the Cooley Gallery’s tradition of presenting fresh, compelling exhibitions of historic American art.
Jeffrey W. Cooley, owner of the Cooley Gallery, comments, “I have always been enamored with the liveliness and apparent spontaneity of Hills’ work, despite knowing she worked tirelessly to perfect her compositions." He adds, "There is widespread recognition among American art dealers that Hills is among our very best flower painters and two of my valued colleagues, Vincent Vallarino and Sandra Lepore, are joining us in presenting this exhibition.”
Lepore, the current authority on the life and work of Laura Coombs Hills, notes, “Laura Hills brought a fresh aesthetic to an age-old subject. She was successful in posing her subjects against decorative motifs without compromising the color balance and focus of her pastel. Mostly, however, she brought a palette informed by modernism and the art movements of her time.”
Vincent Vallarino adds,“There have been very few exhibitions dedicated to the work of Laura Coombs Hills in the past 70 years. Today, the works are so closely held that there are never enough works in one location to stage an exhibition. This is the largest collection of Hills pastels to come on the market in recent memory.”
The second exhibition is a holiday show of art and objects—paintings, sculpture, jewelry, and other fine craft from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries will be offered.
The gallery is also proud to support critical aid to the disadvantaged children and families of our community by donating five percent of the profits from all sales made before Dec. 20 to the Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut to assist in their ongoing mission to help meet the holiday needs of the less fortunate.
Both exhibitions and sales will run through Jan. 2, 2010.
Editor's Note: Founded in 1981 and located in the heart of historic Old Lyme, the Cooley Gallery specializes in fine American paintings from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, including the Hudson River School, American Impressionism, and select contemporary artists. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10am to 5pm. For mroe information, call 860-434-8807 or visit www.cooleygallery.com for additional information. The Cooley Gallery is located at 25 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT06371.
|
|
Printer-friendly format
|
Login and voice your opinion!
|
