‘Autumn Colors’ at Alta Vista
‘View from the Bridge’ by Bob Francisco
On the way to the Valle Country Fair this Saturday, visitors
can drop by Alta Vista Gallery on Broadstone Road in Valle Crucis to enjoy a new show celebrating
the colors of autumn, featuring local artists Joan Sporn, Bennette Rowan, B. Jean Baird, Sheila
Hancock, Bob Francisco and Amos Westmoreland.
“The vibrant colors of autumn bring joy, and
that’s how these new paintings make you feel,” gallery owner Maria Santomasso-Hyde said. “We have
all of the exciting colors of autumn on our walls – the many shades of reds and golds.
“An
oil by Rowan depicts the beginning of autumn, when the purple coneflowers begin to form seeds, and
the birds sit on them to eat the seeds.
“Sporn’s oils show full-blown autumn, with its riot
of reds and oranges in the sugar maples around the Banner Elk area. Francisco’s river scenes are
colorful, yet tranquil, as are the oils of Sheila Hancock, who even did one with pumpkins in
it.”
The new paintings in this show range in size from several very small oils by Hancock, to
large oils by Rowan, Westmoreland and Sporn.
The “Autumn Color” show also celebrates the
gallery’s 22nd anniversary. “Alta Vista Gallery has over 100 artists working in many styles,
and as we celebrate 22 years as an art gallery, I give a huge ‘thank you’ to all of my artists and
customers,” Hyde said. “I feel blessed to have been in business for 22 years.”
The artist
reception for this show will be on Oct. 27, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is free and open to the
public. Local artists will be on hand, and refreshments will be served, including “anniversary cake”
(or pumpkin bread), hot cider and tastes from Shelton Vineyards.
The show will hang through
mid-November, when the gallery will show new paintings and items for Christmas gifts in
preparation for the annual Alta Vista Christmas Open House, which will take place Nov.
24.
The Oct. 27 reception is a part of the monthly Tour de Art, which showcases 14
galleries and studios. Maps of the tour are available at each gallery. Receptions are held on the
fourth Saturday of each month, June through November.
Alta Vista Gallery shows more than
100 artists in various mediums, including oil, pastel, watercolor, jewelry, fused glass, stained
glass, clay art tiles and Mangum pottery.
Alta Vista is located in a National
Register of Historic Places farmhouse at 2839 Broadstone Road in Valle Crucis, between Mast Farm
Inn and Mast Store Annex, only 15 minutes from Boone or Banner Elk.
For a map and
directions, visit http://www.altavistagallery.com or http://www.facebook.com/altavistagallery or call the
gallery at (828) 963-5247.
Gallery Times
Gallery Times is a weekly news feature of The Mountain Times, featuring short news items submitted by local galleries.
For more information or to make a submission, contact editor Frank Ruggiero at (frank@mountaintimes.com) or (828) 264-6397.
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