47 East 200 North St. George, UT 84770 (435) 627-4525 museum@sgcity.org Mon - Sat: 10am - 5pm 3rd Thursday 10am - 9pm Return to Current Exhibits Return to Past Exhibits A Reflective Nature Show available: January 12, 2008 through March 22, 2008 In the Mezzanine Gallery, from the Leigh Yawkey Woodsen Art Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin comes A Reflective Nature a show of 50 artworks from their permanent collection. A Reflective Nature Calm, mirrorlike surfaces reflecting surrounding landscapes. Rolling waves gently lapping the shore. Swirling eddies churning up foamy swells. Crashing surf stirred by storms at sea. Water, in its many forms and temperaments, has inspired artists for centuries. A small lily-filled pond and its reflective surface prompted one of Claude Monet’s most famous series of paintings. A brief stay in an English fishing village refocused Winslow Homer’s work, causing him to turn to scenes depicting the sea. Wet, sandy beaches and litter-strewn shorelines captivated William Trost Richards, whose seascapes are distinguished by incandescent shores and luminous curling waves. On view are 50 artworks drawn from the collection of the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin. They are alike in that each features birds and water. However, they vary in any as many ways as there are artists to interpret the subject of birds and water. Consider Sanibel Sunset by Sueellen Ross. A first impression might be to cover your eyes for the dazzling light on the water’s surfaces is almost blinding and is further accentuated by the indigo-black horizon. The foreground plays foil to a flock of roseate spoonbills that are partially obscured by intense light rays. Ross’s skillful brush has captured a startling sunset while simultaneously captivating the viewer. Smooth as glass and shiny like a mirror are appropriate descriptions of the water in The Edge of the Pond by Robert Verity Clem. A hyper-real light halos the snipe and draws the eye from the still bird to its mirrored image in the gray-blue water below. Clem’s meticulous handling adds to the ethereal feel. Some artists convey a mood or define objects with simple lines and tonal variation. Such is the case with Anne Senechal Faust’s Young Skimmers. Three birds, sharply yet simply defined in red, black, and white, stand in a shallow pool. Shades of blue provide depth to the water and swirling lines add movement. Darker, vibrant colors form the shadows projected by the birds and draw your eye through the composition. Light, color, and texture are just a few devices used to represent water in A Reflective Nature. As you study these works, take note of how each artist has used his or her style to create images of water and birds.