When sisters Jane Foster Johnson and Marietta Foster Smith were preparing to meet with other Rail Walk artists to discuss the 2011 schedule of exhibits, they knew they didn’t have to look far to find a group of talented artists for an invitational show. Their own immediate family includes 12 artists spanning three generations.
The resulting exhibit, “Art is Relative, Art by Three Generations of the Foster Family” will be on display at Rail Walk Studios & Gallery in Salisbury through August 27. The reception will be held Saturday, August 13, from 2-4 p.m. in conjunction with the Salisbury Spencer Second Saturday Gallery Walk.
Many of the artists will be available at the reception to discuss their techniques and inspiration.
Artists in the exhibit include Will Foster, who will show examples of his wrought iron art and woodworking. He lives near Sauratown Mountain and is the blacksmith interpreter at Mabry Mill National Park. Peyton A. Foster, architectural designer, will be showing acrylic paintings on canvas which are inspired by the natural beauty of the area surrounding his mountain home in Marion. His wife, Carolyn Foster, will be displaying hand-built pottery. Jane Foster Johnson, who now works in her studio in Clemmons, will be showing watercolors, and pastels inspired by nature. Marietta Foster Smith continues to work in her studio at Rail Walk Studios & Gallery and will be showing work from her series of oil paintings entitled “dreams and other childhood memories.” The exhibit will include handmade knives by Steven Foster who works in metal. He lives by the Dan River in Westfield.
Second generation artists include Alisa Burnette, full-time metal artist from the Asheville, area whose metal creations are finely detailed steel accentuated with copper patinas and colorful papers suspended in resin to achieve a glass-like appearance. Forrest Foster, also a full-time professional, works primarily in oil on canvas and will exhibit a series of paintings featuring trees and poetic skies. He works in his studio overlooking the mountains of Westfield. Kelli Isenhour of Spencer will feature lovely handmade quilting and baskets. Abbey Foster Barden of Asheville will have samples of her 3-dimensional decorative collage. David Foster of Davie County will display his delicate and detailed miniature barns constructed with charm and precision using found objects.
Third generation artists include Jade Burnette, age 14, who has been creating metal art with his mother, Alisa, since he was eight. He will show samples of nature-inspired wall pieces and some weaponry. Ellie Smith, age 12, of Hood River, Ore., will show her photographs which exhibit an unusual sense of perspective and an abstract sensibility.
Burnette will speak at the reception.
She will be talking about tools, materials and design choices that she uses in creating finely detailed metal pieces, which are in private and public collections throughout the country.
She will be assisted by her son, Jade .
Rail Walk is located at 409 N. Lee Street and is open Saturdays 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
For information about Rail Walk Studios and Gallery contact Marietta Foster Smith at 704-431-8964, mariettafsmith@bellsouth.net or visit www.railwalkgallery.com . For more information about Alisa Burnette visit www.ashevillehorizon.com