Show Preview | Act I Gallery: Twilight

Taos, NM
February 2-March 31

Virginia Vaughan, Morning Star Transit, oil, 16 x 20.

This story was featured in the February 2013 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Order the Southwest Art February 2013 print edition, or download the Southwest Art February 2013 issue now…Or just subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss a story!

Twilight is “the soft glowing light from the sky when the sun is below the horizon,” and “the period of the evening during which this takes place, between daylight and darkness.” At least that’s how most dictionaries define twilight. But how might a group of artists interpret the term? And how might they express their interpretations through art? These are the questions that excited gallery owner Anita Ellison when considering this year’s theme for Act I Gallery’s annual group show. “Twilight could mean diffused illumination to one artist, a state of ambiguity for another artist, and a certain palette to yet another,” Ellison says.

Doug Candelaria, Taos Sundown, oil, 14 x 11.

Given the possibilities for artistic interpretation, Ellison thought twilight would be an excellent theme for a show. “I opened Act I Gallery 24 years ago and have hosted many theme shows throughout the years,” she says. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to inspire and stretch the artists’ imaginations, and it provides collectors with fresh works from their favorite artists.” Twilight opens with a reception that includes live music and refreshments from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 2. The show features new works by both gallery and guest artists who were asked to create with the theme of twilight in mind.

Western artist Doug Candelaria displays at least five pieces in the show. “I found inspiration for these works from experiencing the brilliant and special light that only the high-desert skies of the American Southwest can offer,” says Candelaria, whose paintings usually feature cowboys and Native Americans on horseback.

Plein-air painter Patricia Jacobsen has six pieces in the show. “These paintings are similar to my past work in that they convey a feeling of serenity and solitude, a state of being that I personally value,” Jacobsen says. “But they differ in that they were done at night, whereas most of my previous works are daylight pieces. The color palette, temperature, values, edges, and mood all change in the absence of daylight.”

Dinah Worman, Winter Sun, pastel, 20 x 24.

Virginia Vaughan is another plein-air painter presenting new works in the show. “I paint the twilight hours a lot, so these works are quite similar to my previous works,” she says. Vaughan’s landscapes often feature farms, cows, and vast open skies. “Since I paint outdoors, I’m constantly breathing in the creation around me … my hope is that the viewer will linger long enough to let their eyes adjust to the subtle message that calls to them outside in the early morning,” Vaughan says.

This year’s special guest artists are Rod Hubble, Jane Mahoney, and Tom Rogers, who recently started painting abstractly after focusing on realism and portraiture for almost a decade. “I’ve reinvigorated my creative impulse and my artistic intention,” Rogers says. “This is my first opportunity to show my new body of work.”

Many other gallery artists are also participating this year, and Ellison is excited to present a “refreshing and lively” theme show. “There are no boundaries, so the show is unexpected, offering a surprising diversity for both the artist and collector,” she says. —Lindsay Mitchell

contact information
575.758.7831
 www.actonegallery.com

Featured in the February 2013 issue of Southwest Art magazine–click below to purchase:
Southwest Art magazine February 2013 digital download
Southwest Art magazine February 2013 print edition
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