Feb. 10, 2003 – A show of new work by two artists opening on Thursday at Blue Turtle Gallery on St. Thomas is a tribute to a third who was a mentor to both.
The featured painters are Deborah St. Clair and Kimberly Boulon, both of St. John. The exhibition is an homage to internationally known artist and author David Millard, a part-time resident of St. Thomas for 40 years.
Millard, a master colorist who died last April, was the author of three books including the widely used teaching volumes "Joy of Watercolor" and "More Joy of Watercolor." He not only painted but also conducted painting classes at his studio in East Caret Bay.
Blue Turtle owner Lucinda Schutt, Boulon and St. Clair were among the many St. Thomas and St. John artists who spent time working under Millard's tutelage.
Schutt said that Millard's widow, Edith, will be providing several of his original watercolors to be hung as part of the show. She, Boulon and St. Clair will be present at the opening reception, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Both St. Clair and Boulon will be exhibiting works in mixed media, watercolor, pastel and oil, Schutt said.
St. Clair has titled her collection "Symbols of Our Universal Consciousness." Using art to demonstrate, she has compared the first drawings of children with the symbols found in the prehistoric cave paintings, tapping into what she calls the "universal and primordial consciousness." In these works, she has utilized Millard's peinture a l'essence, or dry pigment, technique and his method of starting on a textured ground, employing them in a non-representational genre.
Her time studying with Millard was brief but important to her as an artist, St. Clair says. One of the most important lessons she learned from him was "to live every day painting." His belief that "to experiment is to grow" has proven itself many times, she says, as she has tried something new and gained knowledge as an artist.
Boulon says the theme of her paintings in the show, "The Evolution of a Concept," is based on advice gained from Millard: "Keep yourself open to being you. Don't let anyone box you in. You're the one with the brush; you can paint what and how you want. Don't sell your soul; just paint."
Experimenting with a variety of mediums and drawing from her imagination, memory and sketchbooks, Boulon explores the progression of a concept, intuitively and consciously depicting the subconscious mind, genetic beginnings, prejudice, human connections and reality to abstraction, and the incubation of thought to self-awareness. In creating these paintings, she literally let a concept take her where it would.
Blue Turtle Gallery is located in downtown Charlotte Amalie on the westernmost end of Government Hill, above Garden Street. The opening reception will include complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres.
The show will hang for a month. Regular gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, visit the Blue Turtle Gallery Web site, or call 774-9440.
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