Camden Falls Gallery is pleased to announce our 6th exhibition of the 2019 season.
Exhibition: The Beauty of Wood on Water – Featuring Poppy Balser, Todd Bonita, and Paul Garnett
Exhibition Dates: August 29th – September 13th, 2019
CAMDEN ART WALK: Opening Reception Thursday, August 29th 5-7pm
Coinciding with the Camden Windjammer Weekend and kicking off with Camden’s first Art Walk, Camden Falls Gallery is wrapping up its summer season with a show of works by three exceptional marine artists. All three offer unique interpretations of the subjects they love and are able to translate, and record their individual artistic journeys with poignant and stunning delivery. Though singular in style and approach, each artist shares a mutual relationship with the sea and those who live on it. Poppy Balser is an active sailor and is able to capture a unique balance of wind, water, and design. Todd Bonita’s work emanates with atmospheric and introspective qualities, and the work of Paul Garnett reflects a unique blend of historical and narrative marine art.
Poppy Balser is a Canadian painter who has always lived within walking distance of the ocean. She developed an early and deep connection with the seashore which has deepened, as she studies the sea and its environment through her paintings. She often paints outside to keep her observations fresh and accurate.
Poppy values her plein air sketches for their directness. She feels they are an important reference tool which she brings back to the studio to use in making larger, more deliberate and intentional works. Her goal is to transfer the open air feeling of being outside in nature into her studio work. She paints outdoors through all seasons, finding her inspiration in the seacoast and landscapes.
“I feel so fortunate to live near the shore… with huge tides that sculpt our seacoast, dramatic waves and haunting fog, there is always something new to paint. I paint en plein air as often as possible. This practice enables me to observe my subjects over time so I can create paintings that resonate strongly with the viewer.”
Poppy is an elected Signature Member of the American Society of Marine Artists and the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolor, which require the highest levels of professional achievement and excellence in composition. Poppy’s work has been showcased internationally, and thanks to her growing international reputation as an exceptional artist, she was recently invited to take part in The Forgotten Coast en Plein Air. The 10-day festival is among the world’s most prestigious of plein air events, emphasizing artistic excellence and the production of investment-quality paintings. Poppy was invited to this event as part of an elite group of 20 internationally acclaimed artists from around the world.
Todd Bonita earned his BFA at The Art Institute in Boston. He also studied classical painting and drawing in Philadelphia at The Academy of Fine Arts. His career includes stints as a graphic designer for commercial businesses, and as a commissioned artist creating large scale murals. As a highly respected illustrator, Bonita has also worked for many large publishing houses including McGraw Hill and Houghton Mifflin.
As an oil painter, Bonita’s focus is often on small watercraft. His classic dories and yacht tenders are imbued with a deep sense of psychological mystery. The softness of light on these solitary vessels, resting quietly at their moorings or tethered securely to abandoned docks, seems to take the viewer outside the normal strictures of time to a more mystical state. Bonita writes, “I paint what is familiar to my background… introspective memories of my childhood…they’re contemplative and reflective of where I grew up. I guess I’m digging into my soul.”
In contrast to Bonita’s focus on the present, Paul Garnett is known for his precise and meticulous depictions of sailing vessels from a bygone era. Garnett grew up in the Boston area spending much of his free time on the waterfront. A special attraction to him was the frigate “Constitution”, docked nearby, where he befriended crew members working on the venerable warship “Old Ironsides.” An avid draftsman, he constantly recorded his experiences in sketchbooks, documenting his nautical interests.
A pivotal event occurred in 1962 when Garnett discovered the historic replica of the “HMS Bounty,” created for the classic film, “Mutiny On The Bounty.” This full-scale ship was docked in St. Petersburg, Florida, and kept as a working exhibition. Pulling up stakes, Garnett moved his family south to work as a shipwright on The Bounty for seven years. Paul writes, “I don’t think I’ve ever worked on one of my marine paintings without drawing in some small way upon my unforgettable experiences aboard The Bounty.” Garnett’s intimate knowledge of historical naval structure, rigging and engineering of 18-19th century ships has informed and influenced his entire body of work.
Garnett has completed commissions for retired Coast Guard officers, and has worked at The Merchant Marine Academy in King’s Point, NY. His illustrations also grace the covers of William H. White’s historical naval trilogy about the War of 1812. Permanent collections of Garnett’s work reside in The Constitution Museum in Charlestown, Massachusetts and The Marine Museum in Fall River. The artist is also a longstanding member of the National Maritime Historical Society, American Society of Marine Artists, and the International Society of Marine Painters.
As part of a larger strategy to establish Camden as a strong presence in the Maine art-scene, Camden Falls Gallery is proud to join forces with our long time friends and neighbors at the Small Wonder Gallery, the Page Gallery, Carver Hill Gallery and DAAC Designs to present Camden’s first inauguaral Art Walk! Begin your experience at the Public landing where Camden Falls and Small Wonder are located and continue your journey with an easy stroll up to Bay View Street where you’ll fine Page, Carver Hill and DAAC Designs Galleries.
Come and enjoy these truly wonderful collections dedicated to the marine art of Midcoast Maine!
Camden Falls Gallery is open daily from 10am-7pm, please join us in the Camden Art Walk on Thursday, August 29th from 5pm-7pm. For more information, please visit our website at www.camdenfallsgallery.com, call 207-470-7027, or find us on Facebook and Instagram.
Dominique Ostuni’s solo exhibition, “Would an Angel Apologize for Spilling Champagne,” is on view through Oct. 3 at Dowling Walsh Gallery in Rockland. A centerpiece of the exhibition is “Excess Comes Naturally,” an elaborate mirror standing more than 8 feet tall. The work begins with an ordinary functional object, then overwhelms that function with porcelain, […]
Waterfall Arts will invite the public inside more than 40 artist studios during the Lincoln Street Center Fall Open Studios from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 17 at 24 Lincoln St. in Rockland. During the free event, artists will open their studios and welcome visitors into their creative spaces. Guests can explore Rockland’s historic former […]
“Made in Maine,” the Maine Art Gallery’s annual member show, features more than 100 works of art across two floors of the historic Old Academy building in Wiscasset. The exhibition is on view through Oct. 18. Sara Stites of Thomaston, a new member, is showing at the gallery for the first time. Her oil painting […]
High Peaks Artisan Guild in Kingfield features Western Maine watercolor artist Karen Jordan Paul throughout September. Paul draws inspiration from wildlife found throughout Maine, particularly wild birds and fish. The guild celebrated Paul as its featured artist of the month during the Sept. 4 Kingfield Art Walk. High Peaks Artisan Guild is at 245 Main […]
Turtle Gallery in Deer Isle presents “Material Storytelling,” a three-artist exhibition featuring new work by Sheep Jones, Michele Ratté Delphin and Barbara Sullivan, through Oct. 11. The three artists use distinct materials and techniques to explore narrative, light and the quiet poetry of everyday objects. Jones brings her signature combination of oil and cold wax […]
Photographer Melonie Bennett will discuss her exhibition and debut monograph, “Holy Cow!,” from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Maine Museum of Photographic Arts in Portland. The event will include an interview, reading and book signing. Photographer and writer Robert Diamante, a friend and fellow photographer, will interview Bennett. “Holy Cow!” presents an […]
Centre Street Arts Gallery in downtown Bath will open its fall show during the Bath Art Walk from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 18. The gallery represents 20 local artists and will feature new work in its fall exhibition. Visitors can meet the artists, explore the show and enjoy refreshments during the reception. Centre Street […]
Maine artist Daryne Rockett will present “Restoring Liberty,” an exhibition of monotypes and mixed-media work, from Oct. 2 to Nov. 24 at the McDade Gallery at Bangor Public Library. The exhibition brings together two interconnected bodies of work examining freedom, democracy, justice and hope. In a series of layered monotypes, the Statue of Liberty appears […]
Maine Craft Weekend, an annual statewide celebration of craft, community and creativity, will return Oct. 3 and 4. The free, self-guided tour invites visitors to discover the people, places and stories behind Maine’s craft communities. Hundreds of participating artists and locations will host open studios, workshops, pop-up markets, exhibitions, fairs, artist talks, special events and […]