Annoucements

Three Visions Art Exhibit at the CAC in May

May 4, 2011

May’s art exhibit at the Cultural Arts Center is entitled “Three Visions” and features an exhibition of paintings by artists Catherine Christopher, Richard Drehmer, and Peter Plant. The exhibit runs from May 5 to May 29 with an opening reception on Saturday, May 7th from 5:00-9:00 p.m. This exhibit invites everyone to see how three different artists interpret the landscape of Maryland, each in their unique way capturing the diversity of the area on canvas and paper. Their variety of techniques and approaches will enhance your appreciation of both the natural and the man-made beauty all around us.

Christopher is a native of New York, born and raised on the Southeast shore of Long Island. She painted her first oil painting in high school and knew she would be a painter for the rest of life. In 2000, Christopher moved to Frederick, Maryland. She has made her living as a decorative painter since 1995, creating finishes and murals in homes and business up and down the east coast. While working on a space for The Baltimore Symphony Show House, she needed a piece of artwork for the wall and for the first time in twenty years put paint to canvas. At that point, “there was no turning back as I forgot how much I loved painting canvas,” Christopher said.

Her canvas paintings are unique. Using decorative painting materials and applying the color to the canvas with trowels and a variety of scrapers, she creates beautiful, shimmering images full of depth and color. “I can’t be squeezed into any particular box. Sometimes I’m feeling abstract or I want to create a modern decorative piece, and sometimes I want to render that pear exactly as I see it,” she said.

Drehmer also grew up in New York, in Corning, in an artistic and musical family. Following his retirement from forty-five years in the pastoral ministry, he has been able to pursue more vigorously his love of painting. Drehmer paints in oils, usually plein air, that is, outdoors, directly from nature. His paintings are in the realist/impressionist tradition, and are noted for their bold treatment of light and color. Drehmer began painting seriously mid-life, and is self-taught, having learned from studying the original works of the masters, and from his large library of art books. Drehmer has painted in forty states, as well as in England and France. He is an adjudicated member of several artist groups, and is a popular demonstrator of his oil painting techniques among a number of art associations. Drehmer has done many one-man and small group shows displaying his work in several states and in England. His work has been honored with numerous awards.

Drehmer has a clear philosophy for his art. He paints for the sheer joy of it, and wants those who see his paintings to above all experience that joy. As one might expect, the painting experience for him is an act of worship of the Great Artist who made light and color, and gave us eyes to see and souls to appreciate the beauty of our wonderful world. He believes strongly in the interrelationship of the arts. He has a degree in both vocal and instrumental music, and has conducted and performed in a wide variety of music traditions including classical, operatic, choral, orchestra and folk music. Acting and directing have also been an important part of his career. He and his wife reside in Middletown, Maryland.

Plant, a lifelong artist, graduated from the University of Dayton in 1976 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with concentrations in painting and printmaking. As a senior he won the University’s highest award for representational art. Plant’s career in graphic arts spanned nineteen years, fourteen of which were spent operating an in-home business, The Graphics Plant. His latest career has been in teaching, and since 2001 he has been an elementary art teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools. Plant has exhibited his art extensively in the Frederick County area. He has held four one-person shows: 1.) Weinberg Center, 1990; 2.) Blanche Ames Gallery, 2007; 3.) Frederick Cellars, 2008; Urbana Library, 2008. His work has been included in numerous exhibitions with the Frederick County Art Association, the Delaplaine Visual Arts and Education Center, and the Frederick Arts Council, in all of which he claims membership.

Plant is an avid painter, especially of works en plein air. His favorite subject is the landscape. He has found the Central Maryland area very conducive to his creativity. “The landscape is so beautiful – and historic – that I can’t help but be inspired to create art”, he says. “I love the blue mountains in the distance, and the Potomac River through the trees along the C & O Canal towpath.”

During the opening reception, work from members of the Potters’ Guild of Frederick will also be on display and available for purchase. And, from 4:00-7:00 p.m., a silent auction will take place of artwork from other local, regional, and national artists with the proceeds benefiting the 18th annual Frederick Festival of the Arts, scheduled for June 4-5 along Carroll Creek Linear Park.

The Cultural Arts Center gallery is open Thursday through Sunday and additional hours are available by appointment. The Cultural Arts Center is located in downtown Frederick at 15 N. Market Street. For more information, call 301-662-4190.