Town of Abingdon, Virginia

NEWS RELEASE

The Gallery @ Barr Photographics announces the fall installment of the Corner

Gallery’s 2019 exhibition series with a collection of plein aire oil or acrylic works entitled

"Waterworks” by Fincastle, Virginia, artist, Bret LaGue.

The very definition of ‘plein aire” painting requires speed and accuracy on the artists’ part as paintings are produced outside, on location, in the elements, with a mindful awareness of changing light. The plein aire style of painting, in conditions previously alluded to, reveal a talent not inherent in all artists. Brett typically brings a painting, no matter the size, to fruition in two hours or less. The plein aire painter employs broad brush strokes, with a great knowledge of color mixing on the palate, mid-paint, and a fine state of image looseness that is not too unrefined in image detail. It is a very difficult style to master and Brett’s accolades speak to his level of mastery. Recent awards include: 2018: Best use of color, Artists on Location Plein Air, Knoxville TN. 2017: 2^nd place overall, South Peak Plein Air, Roanoke, VA 2016: Queen City Plein Air Festival, Staunton, VA. 2^nd place, quick draw, 3^rd place overall. Lynchburg Paint Out, Lynchburg, VA, 3^rd place, quick draw, 3^rd place overall. 2015: Fall Foliage Festival, Waynesboro, VA. 1^st place, acrylic/oils. Clifton Forge School of the Arts Plein Air, Clifton Forge, VA. 1^st place. SPLASH Plein Air Paint Out, Elizabeth City, NC. 2^nd place. LaGue is an honors graduate in graphic design and illustration from the Ringling College of Art + Design in Sarasota, FL. For over 25 years he has exhibited paintings across the United States in numerous solo and group presentations, art festivals and plein air competitions. His art has been included in national juried exhibitions in Virginia, Georgia, California, Illinois, and Baton Rouge, selected by a number of prominent art professionals including Helen C. Frederick, founder, Pyramid Atlantic, Steve Doherty, editor, Plein Air Magazine and curators from the Hirshhorn Museum, DC, Whitney Museum of American Art, and Carnegie Mellon University.

Brett states in his biographical sketch, “My drawings and paintings are influenced by the color, texture, and energy of the landscape. They also embody an all-at-once taking in of the world. It is about being in a state heightened awareness, like in the midst of a crowd surrounded by sounds, light, colors, smells, and patterns as bodies move through space.”

In his artist’s statement, Bret reveals, “Each of my paintings I desire to be a combination, of its creative record, the story of its visual content and an interaction between both of these elements and the viewer. Understanding that individuals viewing an artwork – no matter how specific in detail – will reinterpret the artist’s intention as they feel it, I strive to invite that reinterpretation to make them a part of the work itself. This exhibit, “Waterworks”is a selection, primarily, of paintings done along rivers, streams, lakes and in the rain. The motion of water is always fascinating – to view and to paint.”

"Waterworks” will be celebrated with a reception and demonstration of technique by Bret LaGue, to which the public is cordially invited, on Friday, 25 October from 7 - 9:00 PM in The Gallery @ Barr Photographics, 152 E. Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia. " Waterworks” will hang, and be offered for sale, 01 October through 30, November 2019. The Gallery @ Barr Photographics is housed in the Greenway Trigg Building, located in the heart of Abingdon’s main street historic district. Please call 276- 628-1486 or visit

https://barrphotographics.com/CornerGalleryFeatureArtist.aspx?cms=9386 for further information.