(Above: Family, beadwork by Karen Pidgeon)

By Randi Bjornstad

A new show at the Don Dexter Gallery, which opens Jan. 6 and closes Feb. 29 — yes, this is Leap Year — is a joint project of two local art galleries, Dexter’s gallery in north Eugene’s Crescent Village, and the Emerald Arts Center in downtown Springfield.

The show, titled Distinct Visions curated by Emerald Art Center, includes 23 works by seven member artists of the art center — Jo Dunnick, Demetra Kalams, Patti McNutt, Uyen-Thi Nguyen, Kathy Paskey, Rayne Pelham, and Karen Pidgeon — and range from beadwork to mixed-media to paintings.

The pieces on display have been selected by the artists from their works that have received particular recognition or that otherwise represent their artistic growth and recent success as artists.

Here is a summary of the participating artists and their approaches:

Jo Dunnick — primarily a watercolor painter who also has been exploring and teaching workshops for 20 years. Her works on display are Sadness In His Eyes (2018), Sun Above The Horizon (2021) and Winter Council (2022).

Demetra Kalams — watercolors and oils reflecting Oregon landscapes, florals, and figures in a contemporary impressionistic style developed during the past 25 years. Her paintings on display are And Each Morning the Sun Will Rise (2023), Cinque Terre (2023), Drifting Among the Reeds (2023), and What Dreams Are Made Of (2023).

Patti McNutt — a longtime oil painter who also has taught artist workshops around the United States and Canada for more than 16 years, including offering small workshops in her Eugene studio. Her paintings on display are Delta Ponds Life (2023), Lazy Hazy Tahkenitch Day (2023), Morning on Salmon Harbor Road (2023), and Winchester Dock Scene (2023).

Uyen-Thi Nguyen — oil painter whose art centers on figure drawing has been recipient of grants and awards at local and nationally juried shows,  and also teaches and coordinates arts instruction at the Emerald Art Center as well as serving on the Springfield Arts Commission. Her paintings on display are Storgē (2023) and The Truth About Adults (2023).

Kathy Paskey — painter who focuses on plein air, alla prima still-life, and studio portraits and is a member of the Emerald Art Center, Maude Kerns Art Center, and Plein Air Painters of Lane County who has participated for two decades in mentorships, classes, and workshops. Her paintings on display are Checker Mallow (2022), Golden Gardens (2022), Clearwater Landing (2023), and Westward Ho (2023).

Rayne Pelham — Oregon native and Indigenous descendant of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and White Earth Band of Chippewa whose art reflects some aspects of those details as expressed through painting, jewelry, and beadwork. Her work on display includes Family (beadwork, 2018), Balanced Medicine (beadwork and acrylic, 2021), and Horseback Rider (beadwork and acrylic (2023).

Karen Pidgeon — Artist since the late 1970s who draws inspiration from forest, wildlife, and nature, including the plains of Africa, woodlands of Alaska, ruins of Mexico, landscape of Hawaii, and travel throughout North America. Her work on display includes framed museum prints of her works, Wolves at Play (2020), Ferruginous Hawk (2023), and Pumphouse Door (2023).

Distinct Visions, curated by Emerald Art Center

When: Jan. 6 through Feb. 29, 2023; opening reception 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 6

Where: Don Dexter Gallery, 2911 Tennyson Ave., No. 202, Eugene (in Crescent Village off Crescent Ave.)

About the gallery: Admission free. Gallery hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, by appointment on Sunday and Monday with 48-hour notice.

Information: dondextergallery.com

 

Above: Wolves at Play, by Karen Pidgeon