Meet Attending Artists Braitman, Mead, Mello and More at Carlton Gallery on Sat, July 23

Carlton Gallery opens its 34th Mid-Summer Group Exhibition with an Artist’s Spotlight – “Pushing the Limits with Innovative Elegance” by Andrew Braitman on Saturday, July 23 with an Artists’ Reception from 2-5 p.m. Some of the gallery’s standing artists plan to attend to meet patrons and visitors. Light hors de oeuvres will be offered and this event is free of charge.

The gallery is celebrating twenty years of representing Andrew Braitman. He is a full-time painter for over forty years and has attained national stature. His work has evolved over the years from non-objective abstracts in the beginning to abstracted landscape paintings. Nature is his muse and inspiration because of the endless subject matter and surprises.

Braitman has the talent, imagination and experience to develop his abstract landscapes with a connection to the natural beauty and the balance of organic elements. His abstracted landscapes inspire deeper breaths with a connection to a sense of peace. Braitman’s ability to render on canvas the common natural beauty with a composed balance of elements, along with his extraordinary color palette makes his paintings very powerful and dramatic.

New glass sculptures by Fred Mead along with blown glass vases and vessels by John Almaguer display a visual thrill of color for this Mid-Summer Group Exhibition.

Fred Mead is a Michigan native who was taught oil painting at age 12 by his father, an artist/industrial designer. The phenomena such as the freezing and melting of a pond and other occurrences in nature is the inspiration for many of his recycled glass candelabras, tables and sculptures. He earned a BA in Fine Arts with a double major in Painting and Sculpture at Columbus College of Art and Design. Mead says, “What I like most in my work is when it has a strong design that is well executed”. Finalist for the Niche awards in 2015, Mead’s “Crystal Globe” sculptural open bowl with recycled and sand blasted glass with a diameter of 22” and 20” tall is a show stopper.

John Almaguer knew at age 14 he wanted to try blowing glass, but it was some years later that he got the opportunity. He now creates sculptures and blown glass forms in beautiful colors as well as clear. Almaguer earned a Bachelor of Fine Art in Glass and has studied and worked with known glass artists in Venice, Italy.

Clay artist Ralph Mello exhibits a collection of functional bowls and vases in addition to his large sculptural urns, lidded and shino jars in the Mid-Summer Group Exhibition. He uses stained glass in some of his glazes which are usually tan with a border of cobalt blue. Mello utilizes a gas-fired kiln for his traditional work which shows an Asian influence.

The Mid-Summer Group Exhibition presents new work in Still Life by Mary Martha McKinley; traditional and abstracted Landscapes by Kevin Beck, Kate Worm, Linda Apriletti, Amy Sullivan and Gina Strumpf; Pastels and oil Figurative Drawings by Arlene Mandell; Mixed Media by Mike Ham, Vae Hamilton, Lisa Boardwine and Marion Cloaninger, along with Wearable Fiber by Vasanto.

The 34th Mid-Summer Group Exhibition displays outstanding fine art and crafts by local, regional, and national artists whose work covers Paintings, Glass, Wood, Clay, Sculpture, Wearable Fiber and fine Jewelry. This exhibition along with “Pushing the Limits with Innovative Elegance” by Andrew Braitman runs through September 15th.

All are welcome to visit Carlton Gallery on Saturday, July 23 to meet Andrew Braitman, Fred Mead and Ralph Mello and other attending artists during the Artists’ Reception, 2-5 p.m. at the 34th Mid-Summer Group Exhibition. The gallery is located at 10360 N.C. Highway 105 S in the Grandfather Mountain Community with hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

For information on gallery artists, exhibitions or seasonal workshops, call 828-963-4288 or visit www.carltongallery.com.
Andrew Braitman - Falling Blossoms Wore Butterflies - 40x40

Andrew Braitman - STILL AND CLEAR - 38x72

Andy Braitman -Out of Bounds - 54x72 approx

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Andrew Braitman - Dawn Glow - 30x30

Ralph Mello - Pottery - 221 -026

Ralph Mello - 297 - Teapot