HOME & ABROAD

Peter Lewis Gallery Gets RealisticSince the Peter Lewis Gallery opened it’s doors last year it has had the fortune of meeting and showing the works of local and international artists who work in differing styles. Mainly the works have been impressionistic in style with emotion evoking energy and colour. Now with the addition of artist Allan Gillard the gallery has some realistic style paintings to show the public as well. This latest exhibition “Home and Abroad” shows the works of Allan Gillard, Jennie Ryland, with new works by Michael Kilburn and Michael Greene.The high realist style of Allan Gillard known as ‘magic realism’ is something awe inspiring to behold. One painting, “Rust in Peace” is a large depiction of an old Ford truck with details that boggle the mind, from the bent metal filaments covering the engine to the tiny details of each clover in the grass. Gillard is well known for his incredibly realistic wood burnings, there is one for sale at the gallery along with three acrylic paintings and one watercolour. Gillard has been living and painting on the west coast of Canada hanging in shows with well known realists such as Robert Bateman. Gillard is home in Newfoundland now working away from his home on the Irish Loop.Jennie Ryland is an artist that Peter Lewis met while painting in Italy. After some conversation about Newfoundland and it’s history Jennie realized that her great great grandfather, Sir Marmaduke Winter, has had quite an impact on St. John’s history with the building of St. John’s beloved ‘Winter Holme’ among some of his many achievements. Peter and spouse Tracey invited Ryland to come to St. John’s this summer for a visit and an opportunity to connect with some of the Winter family clan. Ryland got to spend time at the beautiful Winter Holme tracing the steps of her ancestors and was warmly welcomed by family members in the city who have traced their family roots in the past, gladly helping Jennie fill in some of the puzzle pieces of her own history.Jennie is a watercolourist who lives and paints in Tuscany but who truly enjoyed painting our beautiful scenery while here visiting Newfoundland. Her latest paintings are on display at the Peter Lewis Gallery, at 5 Church Hill. The show “Home & Abroad” will have it’s opening on Saturday, September 25th from 2-5. Everyone is welcome.