‘Sea and Sky’, a new show by Heidi Palmer, opens at the Jessie Edwards Gallery on August 7th
A perfect day trip to Block Island. Hopefully, we have all had at least one of them. The weather is sublime, the boat ride easy. The roads and beaches have plenty of room to wander, and the food and sights fill us up before we head back to the ferry to return to the mainland. A day full of special moments and memories to keep us coming back time and time again to experience this beautiful place.
When talking with Heidi Palmer about her upcoming show, ‘Sea and Sky’, at the Jessie Edwards Gallery from August 7th – August 19th, what became apparent was that, as a group, these ten oil paintings depict a perfect trip to Block Island. Each painting captures a special part of what it is to be on Block Island, be it just for one wonderful day or for a longer stretch of time. The artist paints with a clarity and poignancy that conveys the experience of different aspects of coming, and being, on Block Island. Each of these works is a snapshot of daily life, inviting the viewer to engage in the singular experience of each one by relating to each place portrayed.
The day begins with catching the ferry from the mainland. It’s a tranquil day on the water and ‘Heading In’ gets us excited to be nearing the island. We can see the cliffs on our right, welcoming us into the harbor. This day is full of potential and these are a few last quiet minutes before we head out on our island adventure.
Once we land in Old Harbor, we get our bearings and start to tour around the island. In ‘Heading out of Town’, we become part of the landscape that holds an iconic vista looking towards the north. These houses are familiar in a sense that we know we have passed by them at some point in our island wandering and they are place holders in the richer tableau of this piece.
There are many places on the island to access the beach but a favorite one in town is not far from the ferry. ‘Beach Access’ brings the viewer to the east beach, three miles of sand forming a crescent from town to the north of the island. Every visitor eventually makes their way here and the calm portrayal of this almost secret cut gives us access to the beautiful day beyond.
‘Cliffs and Sea’ captures the late afternoon sky and the shadows that are cast over the east side of the island as the sun sets in the west. This space invites us to wander in the warmth left behind as the day closes around us. This space is for deep breaths and last looks before we move from day into night.
In ‘Later Ferry’, we are treated to an interior view looking out, something Palmer is well known for. We are placed in the scene, feeling part of it, looking out as this perfect island day blends into the night, crossing over the ocean as the day crosses into night. It’s been a wonderful experience and we carry the memories of the day with us as we leave the island behind.
This show is at the Jessie Edwards Gallery, upstairs in the iconic Post Office Building in Old Harbor. The gallery is open every day, except Tuesday, from 10am – 5pm and at other times by appointment. If the flags are out, we are in.