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Winter Exhibition at Carlton Gallery Holiday Open House

Nov. 16, 2012. Carlton Gallery’s 30th Anniversary Winter Exhibition begins with a Holiday Open House on Friday, Nov. 23 and Saturday, Nov. 24 from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Toni Carlton extends an invitation to everyone to visit the seasonally decorated gallery and enjoy light refreshments, hot cider and plenty of community spirit. Saturday, Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. is also the last Avery Tour de Art of the season. 

The 30th Anniversary Winter Exhibition features “Small Works” in a varied collection of original art in paintings, glass, wood, pottery, woven wearables and fine jewelry by gallery artists, Toni Carlton, Gina Strumpf,  Fred Mead, Joe Edwards, Lisa Kent, Judi Beck and Robinson Scott.

Oil and pastel paintings by Kevin Beck reflect the beauty of a winter landscape filled with snow, shadows and serenity.

Small and miniature oils on canvas by Holt McLean render the winter landscape in a realistic perspective in colors of icy blues with white snow casting long winter shadows.

Mary Martha McKinley paints still lifes with particular attention to the smallest detail to render realistic oils composed with a collection of her favorite objects.

Egi Antonaccio’s acrylic, palette knife landscapes rendered with local barn scenes depict the textures and colors of the High Country.  In his painting called “The Red Barn” snowy sunlit reflections capture the essence of winter’s breathtaking brilliance in the mountains.

The 30th Anniversary Winter Exhibition showcases the area’s talented wood artisans – Bobby Phillips, Alan Hollar and James Thoma. The vessels, vases, bowls and urns by Bobby Phillips are crafted from local woods such as walnut, spalted maple and cherry along with exotic woods from other areas. A trademark of his classically shaped pieces is their remarkable thinness, as well as his elegant ebony finials. Many of his pieces feature carving, surface texturing, recycled metal and inlaid materials such as turquoise and chrysocolla.

Local artist, Allan Hollar, is known for his carving combined with turning of his pieces ranging from 8” to 24” or larger, along with the natural finish of the woods left untouched by his carving tools such as his maple burl “Camp Green Cascade”.  He looks for an elegance of line and form as his works evolve thus creating curves that transition sensibly and smoothly, sometimes including textures that complement or contrast a rugged rim or burl surface.

Shaker boxes and shaker inspired pieces by James Thoma are handcrafted in many sizes ranging from 3” miniature boxes to 38” table tops. Traditional methods of bending thin woods around a solid core, along with copper tacks in graceful swallowtail fingers hold the bands together in his work which takes many precise painstaking hours. Thoma’s finely crafted works are tomorrow’s heirlooms.

New to the gallery are fine jewelry designs by Julie Salvetti and Rebecca McLaughlin Neigher.

Julie Salvetti is “hooked on pearls.”  Her favorite pearls include Fresh Water, Tahitian and Akoya. The jewelry is completed with handmade clasps, pendants and earrings using traditional metalwork techniques in 18k and 14k gold along with sterling silver.  Salvetti says, “The future of pearls is very exciting; a new door has been opened.”

 Rebecca Neigher’s organic, contemporary designs in sterling silver combined with fresh water pearls, citrine, and Chinese writing stones with a kinetic quality which are rendered in necklaces, earrings and bracelets are a holiday enhancement to the gallery. Kinetic characteristics are also a highlight of Tana Acton’s bracelets and rings handcrafted with precisely wrapped sterling silver and gold fill wire and beaded with moveable pearls and gemstones.

Clay artist, potter, John Turner specializes in Raku bowls, vessels and platters with copper glazes that exude an iridescent surface of specific patterns while the glaze changes colors with the light. Turner’s new work is an aspect for the Small Works Exhibition, as he usually works larger.

The “2012 Figurative Abstractions” Exhibition by Warren Dennis will continue until Dec. 31. His new paintings are cubist based while his works for many years were naturalistic based with a little eccentricity thrown in. Warren Dennis’ paintings represent yet another artistic dimension with the shapes and lines shifting from organic, soft and flowing curves to angular, more geometric forms allowing a 3-dimensional view. 

All are invited to Carlton Gallery’s Holiday Open House on Nov. 23 and 24, 10-5 as Carlton Gallery opens its 30th Anniversary Winter Group Exhibition which runs through April 30.  View the festive gallery filled with artwork in all media by gallery artists along with the “Small Works Exhibition” and “2012 Figurative Abstractions” by Warren Dennis while enjoying holiday spirit and hot cider. The gallery is located 10 miles south of Boone and 7 miles north of Linville on Hwy 105 S in the Grandfather Mountain Community. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information about the gallery, artists or workshops, call 828-963-4288 or visit www.carltonartgallery.com.