Mango Tango Art Gallery on Route 38 unveils The Risk Zone from 5:30- 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22. The exhibition features the paintings of Kathy Carlson and Mel McCuddin.
Kathy Carlson has been working with the gallery for over 12 years. Her early figurative paintings depicted the rural gentility of the West Indies, capturing islanders in an innocence that precludes modernization. Over the years, she has mastered many styles, presenting a wide range of subjects, including global mythology, children’s nursery rhymes, landscapes and florals.
Carlson created two groups of work for the current show. In small format she has painted both still life and landscape in an engaging, familiar style. Her second group is seven works, 30 by 30 inches in size. The suite of paintings presents her interpretation of the Biblical story of creation. Each work showcases yet another style she has mastered. She examines color, form, textures and patterns while visually telling the beginning of the world. In both the small works and the larger ones, her signature luminosity and her vibrant color schemes and compositions capture the viewer’s attention and emotion.
McCuddin exhibits regularly in Spokane and Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon and Couer d’Alene, Idaho. He has participated in shows in Pago Pago, American Samoa and Japan, as well as galleries and university shows throughout the United States. Mango Tango has featured his work for nine years. .jpg "\"Bottles in the Window\" by Mel McCuddin")
His early work was mostly abstract expressionist; he has been greatly influenced by artists such as De Kooning, Rothko, Kline and Pollack. His work gradually evolved into his present figurative expressionist style, which deftly presents the human condition.
McCuddin is an intuitive artist who paints directly on the sized canvas with no preliminary drawing or outline. The paint is poured, dripped, rubbed and wiped, and he uses rags and his fingertips at least as frequently as he uses brushes.
McCuddin explains his process. "Painting for me is like shooting a shotgun at a target. There are many that come close, some completely miss and once in a while one will hit the bull’s eye. It is these few that hit the mark that make it all worth the effort. In nearly 60 years of painting my goal has not changed and that is to do work with a strong presence that will stand the test of time."
Gallery co-owner Jane Coombes explains why the show was entitled The Risk Zone. "Both Carlson and McCuddin take chances. They perpetually experiment. An interesting painting created by either of them will not be repeated. Each show in which they participate takes the viewer on a new journey."
Meet both artists at the opening. Former St. Thomas artist Kathy Carlson currently lives in California and Mel McCuddin lives in Washington. View the art and enjoy the music of 2 Blue Shoes at the rum punch reception.
The show continues for one month. For more information, call 777-3060.
