May 9th – July 19th
Opening reception from 5-7pm on May 9th
The exhibition offers a captivating journey through the art of floral and landscape
depiction, showcasing how artists across centuries and cultures have turned to the
natural world for inspiration, expression, and reflection. Spanning nearly 300 years,
the works in this exhibit invite viewers to consider both the intimacy and vastness
of nature—from the delicate precision of a single bloom to the sweeping grandeur
of distant horizons.
The exhibition includes an exquisite 1730 Chinese silk painting, a testament to the
refined aesthetic and philosophical sensitivity of traditional Chinese art. Rendered
with meticulous brushwork and subtle gradients of ink and color, this piece reflects
not only a mastery of technique but also a reverence for harmony between nature
and human life. The flora here is both symbol and subject, embodying ideals of
beauty, transience, and inner balance.
Moving into the 19th and early 20th centuries, the works of Joseph Henry Sharp
introduce a Western interpretation of botanical themes. Known for his role in the
Taos Society of Artists, Sharp’s floral paintings are rich in color and texture,
merging the academic traditions of European art with a deep appreciation for the
American landscape. His flowers, often set against the stark beauty of the
Southwest, reflect a blend of scientific observation and romantic sensibility.
Contemporary artists Malou Flato and Adair Peck bring a modern lens to botanical
representation. Flato’s vibrant, layered compositions pulse with color and rhythm,
celebrating the sensory abundance of gardens and wild growth. Her work often
bridges realism and abstraction, evoking both the recognizable form of flowers and
the energy they exude. Peck, by contrast, explores more minimal and intimate
portrayals. Her florals, sometimes sparse or fragmented, highlight the quiet
intricacies of petal, stem, and shadow—drawing the viewer into a contemplative
space.
Together, these artworks form a rich dialogue between past and present, East and
West, micro and macro perspectives. Botanicals: Distance and Details underscores
how artists have long turned to the organic world not merely for decorative beauty,
but as a profound source of connection, memory, and meaning. Whether capturing
the sweep of a landscape or the curve of a petal, each piece in the exhibit invites us
to see the botanical world with new eyes.
Work below: Nic Fischer, Lijun Wang, Russell Chatham, Malou Flato, J.H. Sharp, Maren Stubenvoll, Tu Baixiong, Adair Peck, & Donna Evans.
