BELLEFONTE — A solo exhibit, “Through the Surface — New Works by Alice Kelsey” will be featured at the Bellefonte Art Museum from Friday, May 5, through Sunday, May 28.
This series of paintings, drawings and monotypes by Kelsey, a national award-winning artist from Warriors Mark, was created during the past year. She used varied art materials to capture the imagery and mystery of a single site — a central Pennsylvania spring-fed pond.
More than 15 new works will be shown in the exhibition, welcoming visitors to immerse in imagery of water lilies, iris and reflections, and explore ways in which the textures and surface qualities of different materials affect the look and feel of artwork.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a book Kelsey wrote about the series. It contains images of the show’s works, as well as descriptions of the materials used and how their distinct qualities influence the look and mood of the artwork.
“I’ve been so excited in creating this body of work,” Kelsey said in a press release. “There’s so much that appeals to me at the pond that it is both immensely captivating and daunting to paint here. From the large patterns to small details, astonishing color and graceful lines, it’s so challenging to know where to begin, or take any one part of it to place on paper or canvas.”
This intense interest and artistic challenge led Kelsey to explore the working traits of many media — oil, pastel, gouache, monotype, silverpoint, acrylic, pen and graphite — harnessing variations in texture, opacity and gloss in her choice of materials to best capture a scene. She also used a variety of surfaces, including linen, canvas, wood panel and several kinds of paper, since this part of a painting also significantly affects its expression.
The artwork is presented in custom frames made with native Pennsylvania hardwoods, connecting it back to the land that inspired it.
“In some magical way beyond me, I think that these works speak of what I feel so touched by at this place — interconnections in the large and the small, the tangible and ‘something more,’’ said Kelsey.
‘It means a great deal to me to share these works with others in this exhibit.’
Kelsey will give gallery talks from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 6, and from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 21. A reception will be held from noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 7, where Kelsey will discuss her work with visitors.
Book signings are scheduled from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 6, and Sunday, May 14. Books will be available for purchase.
Admission to the exhibit is free and open to the public, and the artwork will be available for purchase. The Bellefonte Art Museum is located at 133 N. Allegheny St. in Bellefonte, with gallery hours from noon to 4:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, or by appointment.
For more information, visit www.bellefontemuseum.org or www.alicekelsey.com.
