Curator’s Choice: A Dual Exhibition with Carol Barber + William Bennett September 6-27, 2024 (Dové Gallery)
Second Street Gallery – Charlottesville, VA
As I continue to use paint as a medium, the digital art that I did early in my career still influences me. This manifests through experimentations with materials and layering of paint. My latest work involves painting directly on transparent substrates and suspending acrylic paint on top of clear acrylic gel. These methods present unique layering techniques all my own. September 6 – 27, 2024, I will be showing with the sculptor, William Bennet, in the Dové Gallery at Second Street Gallery. My new work will include paintings on clear Dura-lar film. The colors in the paintings represent memories of closely watching blown bubbles as a child. Paintings on wooden panels with colors representing carnival rides at night will also be in the exhibit. Looking forward to sharing “the carnival” paintings in the coming weeks!
“Blowing Bubbles”, acrylic on Dura-lar, 16″ x 16″, 2024.
Three decades ago I began my professional career as a digital artist. While working on the computer, I strived to make art as natural as possible by incorporating transparent layers of photographed texture and scanned marks. When I went to graduate school, I wanted to move away from digital tools and return to the process of mark making by hand that I experienced as a child. However, my thinking about working in digital layers never left me even after twenty years of painting in acrylics and mixed media. The reintroduction of transparent substrates with my gestural work reflects my experiences living in our modern times. Painting on clear acrylic sheets is a tangible expression of my thoughts of traversing between the digital and physical worlds. It also creates an artwork that continues to mix realities as it interacts with the environment through reflections, shadows and allowing surroundings to show through the piece.
Currently see this work at The Pink Gallery in Quirk Hotel, Richmond, VA.
This Fall feels like a reopening of the art world for me! It started with the annual fundraiser for Second Street Gallery on Sept. 2. Three of my small works sold quickly which made me happy! Not only to support the gallery but because I was debuting a new use of media in my paintings. This idea of painting on acrylic sheets is inspired by works I created digitally printing on acetate in graduate school more than twenty years ago!
Next on the calendar will be offering many works on paper that I started during the pandemic lock downs and have continued reworking. Sizes will range from 9" x 12" to 18" x 24" and the pieces will be affordably priced and not framed. This sale day will take place at Merrie Mill Farm & Vineyard, Friday, September 16, 2022 from 12 - 9pm.
On September 17, Dwell Fine Art & Craft will have a grand opening of their new gallery in Hume, VA! I am pleased to have large works on canvas included. I am sure you will enjoy a drive out to Hume, VA while taking in the Fall scenery. It is gorgeous country! Contact owner, Hayley Sykes, when you are planning your trip. 5047 Leeds Manor Road, Hume, VA 22639
The month will close with a fund raiser auction in which all proceeds will benefit Housing2Home, a collaborative program between New City Arts and The Haven. Get tickets here. Many artists are participating whose work I love. I am excited to debut another new piece of mine that is painted on two pieces of clear acrylic without any backing panel. I am very curious of peoples' reactions!
As you are seeing the Fall foliage, don't forget to stop in to the Annie Gould Gallery in Gordonsville, VA. It is filled with handmade treasures and you will spot some of my works on paper in frames. Happy Fall!
"Ascension I, II, and III" (one has sold) 2021, 11” x 14 ”, oil and graphite on paper, contact Annie Gould Gallery for availability
"Set Adrift" at Dwell Fine Art & Craft
"Summer Adventure" at Dwell Fine Art & Craft
"Rising One More Time" at Dwell Fine Art & Craft
"Echoing Impressions II", acrylic on acrylic sheet and wood panel, 8" x 8" SOLD
"Day Dream", 18" x 24", acrylic on acrylic sheets, New City Arts auction
www.carolbarber.com
Painting for the love of color, the joyous process of layering paint and the inspiration of the wonderful world around us. I have been an exhibiting artist since 2002.
