Rail Walk Studios & Gallery at 409-413 N. Lee St. is hosting a Reunion Exhibit of artwork by current and former Rail Walk Artists. The show will be on exhibit Friday Aug. 3-Saturday Aug. 27. Gallery is open every Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. as well as most Thursdays and Fridays 11-4. The opening reception is Friday Aug. 3 6-8 p.m. The show and reception are free and open to the public.
The exhibit includes art by the original three artists who founded Rail Walk Studios & Gallery: Marietta Foster Smith who is still a member, Jimmy Alston and Norma Velasquez-Frink.
“We are excited to have most of our Rail Walk artists in the gallery for this special exhibit,” says Smith. Karen Frazer, one of our current artists, mentioned how great it would be to have an exhibit that included work by many of our Rail Walk “family.” We are thrilled that so many are able to participate.
“I remember our first opening with such fondness and am delighted we were able to arrange to set up a video of the installation/performance art by Norma Velasquez-Frink from that very first grand opening reception in November of 2006,” Smith said.
The piece involved sheer fabric hanging from the ceiling on which Frink had drawn figures in ink. Dancers then danced in and out of the art and were recorded. They danced again and the previous dance was projected on to the dancers and art. This process continued through several layers to achieve an almost abstract video of music, art and dance.
“ I had been sorry that so few people were able to see the original piece and am thrilled that Norma is visiting from her new home in Alexandria, Va. and is able to provide the video and will be attending the opening reception.”
Jimmy Alston, the other founding member will be showing work from his current series of figurative art. Alston does painting on soft vintage fabric using pastels. His most recent series is done using black pastel which gives it an almost charcoal appearance but with more finish and an appealing softness. He creates portraits and paintings of people from his life and from his imagination. His sensitivity as a musician informs his art while his paintings create inspiration for his musical compositions.
Other former Rail Walk artists who are participating include:Carol Dunkley who says of her acrylic pieces, “My approach to painting is based on my favorite quote: ‘Can you imagine what you cannot see.’ Thankfully, I can! The joy of my art is simply in the creation and, because of my color blindness, it is always fun and a bit of a surprise.”
Jane Johnson, currently residing at Emerald Isle, will show her new watercolor work.
Rachel Lee will show a series of small oil paintings inspired by her many plein aire painting excursions.
Patt Legg says of her work in the exhibit: “My palette seems to be a little ‘blu’ this time around. I will be showing two new paintings both with a slightly different flair than my usual color palette and texture.
Current Rail Walk artists will also be exhibiting their work.
Elizabeth McAdams will have her manipulated photography and paintings available for view.
Ingrid Erickson says of her work, “I fell in love with the art of cut paper when I lived in China and Thailand. My pieces are all individually hand cut: each is unique.”
Sharon Forthofer says of her piece in this exhibit, “This is my impression of a water lily that was blooming in my sister’s fish pond.” The artwork is oil on canvas
Karen Frazer works with encaustic which is a means of combining wax with color and objects on various backgrounds.
Annette Ragone Hall doesn’t want her art to look like anyone else’s. She paints colorful abstract and impressionistic images.
Liese Sadler, the newest artist at Rail Walk S&G, is a fiber artist who has recently moved two huge looms into her studio at Rail Walk where she displays a lovely collection of wearable art, wall pieces and handmade felt art. Sadler has lived in Salisbury for one year. She can be found at Rail Walk nearly every day creating at her loom.
Marietta Foster Smith will exhibit work from her newest series of figurative work in oil on linen. She will also have sculpture and watercolors on view in her studio.
For more information visit www.railwalkgallery.com or contact Marietta Smith at mariettafsmith@bellsouth.net or 704-431-8964. Rail Walk Studios & Gallery is located in the Rail Walk Arts district in historic Salisbury, North Carolina. It was created in April, 2006 in one of the old warehouses in that area.