Chandler Gallery Imagines the Future’

Chandler Gallery Imagines the Future’

Among the works at the Chandler Gallery's new show, "Imagining the Future," is this painting by Randolph native Brooke Burgee.

The Chandler Gallery in Randolph will celebrate the works of three local artists, all with great vision, for a joint exhibit entitled "Imagining the Future."

Featured artists include George Lawrence of Tunbridge, Randolph Center’s Paul Calter, and Brooke Burgee, who was raised in Randolph and recently relocated to Burlington from Colorado, where she has been for the past four years. The show will run from May 17-June 22. A reception with the artists will be held Sunday, May 18 from 6-8 p.m. and the public is encouraged to attend.

Lawrence is perhaps best known in the Upper Valley for his landscape paintings, although his skills abound with many art forms. For this show, he will share his versatility as he unveils new works bold in both color and vision. He has taught art at the Mountain School in Vershire and at the Fletcher Farm School in Ludlow, as well as instructing watercolor workshops in Vermont and France.

"For several years now I have been lining my studio walls with paintings which have incorporated a range of various techniques from abstract expressions of my inner voices, to super realistic landscapes of the world around me," Lawrence notes. "It eventually reached the point where visitors could not believe that one person had indeed painted all of these works, from almost photo-realism to pieces incorporating simple geometric shapes with a spatially ambiguous matrix of color."

"I suddenly realized that it was possible to utilize these various techniques much the same as one might use various colors in one painting," Lawrence adds. "This led me to where I am at this particular point in time, combining varying techniques in a single painting. This, of course, becomes a technique of its own."

Calter holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering, as well as an MFA in Sculpture from Norwich University. He is Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at Vermont Technical College, where many of his sculptural works adorn the campus, and has also acted as Visiting Professor at Dartmouth.

Calter has had numerous solo shows in the area, and has authored many books and articles, including his most recent book, "Squaring the Circle." He has created scores of commissioned sculptures and paintings over a 37-year period. For more information about the artist and his work, please visit his website at www.sover.net/~pcalter/.

Calter will show a variety of his works having geometric or astronomical themes, including two large sculptures, geometric paintings and works in wood.

The three-dimensional quality of Burgee’s paintings is accomplished not with the use of brushes, but with palette knives. She uses acrylic paint in her works; sculpting paint with her palette knife as she works across the canvas.

"My philosophy on my art mirrors my own life," Burgee wrote. "I’m not a realist and I don’t let fear of the unknown hold me back. I live in the texture, emotion and color of my work. The paintings partly reflect what I see with my eyes, but is more of a reflection of what I feel with my heart."

Burgee is currently working on a project called The Community Collection, where the colors in each of her paintings are inspired and chosen by other people. This process allows Burgee to engage people of all ages and backgrounds in her craft. It allows them to become involved with her artwork on a very personal level.

"When people reveal their colors and what moves them, they are telling their story," she says.

From Vermont, to Chicago, Columbia and locations in Colorado, Burgee has invited the general public to participate in her process during live demonstrations, at art showings, and in her studios. Three 11-year-old girls were so excited about Burgee and their experience participating, that they started a blog about it - www.iamoz.blogspot.com and people across the country have contributed their own comments and reflections.

Burgee will hold a public demonstration of her work Saturday, May 31 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Chandler. Come by and participate in The Community Collection by choosing your colors. Burgee is excited to reconnect with her hometown of Randolph for this project and admission is free. You can visit Burgee’s website at www.iamoz.com for images of her work.

The Chandler Gallery is open Thursday from 4-6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1-3 p.m. Chandler is physically accessible.

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