The Jessie Edwards Gallery is warming up this winter with an inspiring collection of artwork by painters from the past. Each of these works show the artist’s ability to capture light and detail and it is this light which is a beacon of hope as we move ourselves towards longer days and warmer weather. This latest opening is on line at www.JessieEdwardsGallery.com. So, grab a warm drink, make yourself comfortable and enjoy the show.
Nell Blaine (1922-1996) was an integral part of the Second Generation of New York artists in the 1940s. While she made her name as an abstract artist, her style changed over time and she melded abstract expressionism with stippling techniques and created beautiful and vibrant still lifes and landscapes. In “Flowers In Pewter Pitcher”, the viewer is reminded of the beauty and simplicity a vase of flowers can offer in the landscape of a home. This oil on linen painting (22 x 20”) reminds us that spring will arrive and the days will get longer and warmer. This painting is one of hope and color in these cold winter days.
“Untitled -Narragansett Inn Buildings” a 36 x 23” oil on canvas painting by Peter M Gish (1926 – 2024) has us longing for summertime on Block Island. This quintessential building is rendered beautifully by the artist. The viewer can almost feel the grass under their feet, the breeze as it moves through the landscape while the scent of salty air brings a deep remembrance of time and place. This historic building overlooking the New Harbor area holds such visceral memories for so many and we are reminded of this through this iconic work.
Bernard Lamotte (1908 – 1983), a Paris born artist who also lived in New York, was a self-made painter who lived a life of artistic creation. Through his developed sense of observation, he drew and painted what he saw in the every day. In these two untitled studies we are shown glimpses into the lives of the female subject. In “Untitled -Profile”, an oil on canvas board (10 x 13”), Lamotte captures the austerity of place and time. We don’t know whether the woman is sitting for this portrait or if she is captured getting ready for an outing. “Mother and Infant” in oil (9.5 x 13”) portrays so much of the simplicity and complexity of motherhood in the simple brush strokes. This ordinary scene touches our heart.
Joseph Reboli (1945-2004) was a renowned American realist painter who lived on Long Island. He would often travel to Block Island and his paintings of the island have been in numerous shows over the years. In “West Meadow Window” an oil on canvas work (27.75 x 21.5”) the viewer is mesmerized by Reboli’s ability to capture light and detail in his subject. His paintings transform ordinary moments into the extraordinary through his talent to create visual stories.
Agnes Millen Richmond (1870- 1964), an American impressionist, was a member of the original Woodstock colony and best known for her portraits. Her paintings are often full of rich colors and deliberate brushstrokes. In “Woodstock”, a 16 x 20” oil on canvas, the sense of ease in the landscape makes the viewer feel comfort, familiarity and inclusiveness. She invites us into the scene and offers us a place of lush greenery to enjoy some time.
William Skardon (1923-1983) had many interests and subjects and created an abundant number of works around his varied likes. His annual visits to Block Island was a part of that inspiration. The limited color palette and use of negative space in “Untitled- Boats, Old Harbor”, a 27 x 20.75” framed watercolor, makes the image all the more alluring. The viewer is drawn to the boats in the harbor while the colors of the water give the scene a sense of motion.
In “Connecticut Farm on a Cloudy Day”, William Sommerfeld (1905-1998) poignantly captures the feel of an overcast day in the countryside. The viewer can feel the heaviness of the weather as well as the verdant land beneath the cloak of grey skies. This oil on canvas board (9 x 12”) is sparse in its simplicity and the fullness of the image invites us to take a deep breath and rest, knowing better weather is on the way.
We are located on the second floor of the Post Office Building overlooking Old Harbor on Block Island. At this time of year, we are open by appointment and most weekends. Call us on 401.466.5314 for more information or to schedule an appointment.