On display in the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery May 30 – June 25 as part of the ‘It’s Surreal’ exhibit is the ceramic piece by artist Carley Gil titled ‘Arthropod.’ Photo by Teri Nehrenz
The Virgin Valley Artists Association June exhibition titled “It’s Surreal” is sponsored by the Bank of Nevada and runs May 30 – June 25.
A handful of artists entered approximately two dozen paintings, jewelry pieces, sculptures, photographs and mixed medium pieces.
Surreal art began as a cultural movement in the 1920’s and was first coined by French artist Guillaume Appollinaire. Surrealism combines fantasy and reality. Andre’ Breton, a trained medical and psychiatric doctor, described surreal art as, “a juxtaposition of two more or less distant realities. The more the relationship between the two juxtaposed realities is distant and true, the stronger the image will be — the greater its emotional power and poetic reality.”
Much of the work displayed in the gallery reaches far into one’s imagination and is completely the creation of the artist. Pieces such as James Lang’s ‘Still Life in Rose Colored Glasses’ which depicts a skeleton in rose colored glasses reading the ‘Holy Book’ or the mixed medium piece by artist Philip Monlton titled ‘Fuente Del Cielo.’
Surreal Art 5-31-16 01: On display in the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery May 30 – June 25 as part of the ‘It’s Surreal’ exhibit is a Dry Media Piece by artist Pam Olsen titled ‘Golf Nut.’ Photo by Teri Nehrenz
Other pieces in the surreal exhibit are more real pieces with a surreal feel to the artist such as a strange and beautiful rock formation that was photographed by artist Walt Alder titled ‘Fantasy Canyon’ or the colorful and intricately beaded necklace by artist Karron Knight which she calls the ‘Aurora Borealis.’
An artist’s reception for the surreal exhibit will be held at the gallery on June 23 from 4-6 p.m. The reception is free to the public; all are welcome. All art displayed in the gallery is for sale including the pieces on the current exhibit.
Pieces will be judged by members of the Association, the public and the Bank of Nevada. Prizes are awarded to the artists for Best of Show $100, First Place $50, Second Place $30 and Third Place $20. Additionally, ribbons will be awarded for Honorable Mention, Sponsor’s Choice and People’s Choice.
Entry to this and other exhibits sponsored by the VVAA is open to all artists 18 years or older. Applications for future events can be downloaded directly from the gallery web site.
Stop by the gallery anytime to see this exhibit and works displayed by June ‘Artist of the Month’ Kathy Ludwig. Admission to the gallery is always free. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
On display in the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery May 30 – June 25 as part of the ‘It’s Surreal’ exhibit is the intricately beaded piece by artist Karron Knight called ‘Aurora Borealis.’ Photo by Teri Nehrenz
For more information on future exhibits, classes or the Virgin Valley Artist’s Association contact the gallery at 702-346-1338 or visit their web site http://www.mesquitefineartscenter.com.
The VVAA and the gallery are sponsored in part by grants from the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
