Crowe Farm Retreats : JIM CONAWAY
On Display 11 May - 10 June 2018 in the Main Gallery
On Display 11 May - 10 June 2018 in the Main Gallery
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“I am grateful to have been at our first retreat over 20 years ago which has been very important to me in developing a great interest in the landscape as a subject for my painting and drawing. It was a couple years later that Bob invited us to paint on his farm and graciously offered some of us overnight lodging, with each of us furnishing part of a meal. After dinner conversations had no limit of topics or time. Breaks during the day were a continuation of conversations about art, critiques or a maybe much needed nap.
For me the best thing about our retreat is that I am confined to the farm with nothing to do but work. I’m an early riser and I take advantage of that by taking my cup of tea outside and exploring everything within walking distance in complete silence. Seeing the sunrise and studying the contrast of light and shadow creates a natural ambiguity between form and space and a different spirituality as sun reaches overhead and flattens the landscape. After lunch the sun begins its retreat and the ambiguity of shapes and space continues to change as does my definition of spirituality. My landscapes and abstractions in this exhibition were either painted on Bob’s farm or influenced by my experience there.” |