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High-concept art show forces the end of winter
"Golden Spiral," oil on canvas, Karen McEachin Breit
Snow has shied away from the N.C. mountains and piedmont this season, but the near-constant rain and gloom still fosters that sense of unwanted hibernation. Cabin-feverish souls would do well to check out the Winter Heat exhibit at Welborn Gallery (part of the Yadkin Cultural Arts Center in Yadkin, N.C.). On display are Karen McEachin Breit's nature-themed oils. Her botanical subjects flame with a tropical palette, but an overlay of meticulous embellishments adds a posh gesture of Victoriana. Augmenting the works on canvas are a selection of live orchids and bromeliads (tropical plants related to the pineapple), yielding an intriguing hybrid exhibit: is life imitating art, or vice versa? And does it really matter?
Probably not. In this case, the motto might more reliably be: "If it feels good, do it."
"The exhibit takes place during the coldest months of the year, yet the tropical subject matter of the artwork – the brilliant 'hot' colors of native Miami -- invoke a sense of warmth and humidity in the viewer. We wanted to create a tropical look and feel throughout the entire gallery, so the addition of live tropical plants was a natural fit," says Susan Lyons, co-executive director of the Yadkin Arts Council.
Winter Heat is on display through February. Check the website for more information.
