NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University is exhibiting a collection of paintings entitled “On the Horizon” by Brian Perry, an artist and teacher from Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 14-28. The exhibition is being presented in Gallery 2 of the Creative and Performing Arts Building. A reception will take place from 6-9 p.m. Friday, July 21.
“’On the Horizon’ is a visual response to the growing instability in our changing climate,” according to the artist. “These improvisational abstract landscape paintings use dramatic colors and textures to give the viewer a sense of place imbued with energy and possibility. In order to create images of landscapes that convey increasing unrest in natural forces, I all but abandoned realistic rendering in favor of the immediate and improvisational approach of mid-century abstract expressionist painters.”
Perry used modern painting materials and experimented with application techniques in an attempt to create dramatic marks and bold contrasts of color and value.
“I worked with no preconceived subject matter and no visual references. I tried to use momentary decisions I would make while painting and improvise as I built up layers of color and texture,” Perry said. “The results are bold images that vary from simple horizon lines to more recognizable subject matter. The place and mood of the paintings may be interpreted by the viewer, but each was selected to represent this time of tumultuous change in our natural surroundings.”
Perry is an online graduate student earning a master’s degree in art at Northwestern State.
Gallery hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-noon on Fridays. The July 21 reception is open to the public.