Earthly Realms

For this show, three artists have come together to create, present, and challenge the way we encounter and appreciate the realms of our planet.

Garry Childs has chosen to focus on clay as his realm: All of his work for “Earthly Realms” has been formed on the potter’s wheel, from terra cotta clay. 

There is something very magical about this entire process for him, like the moments when a shape is brought to life from
wet clay as it forms in his hands. He applies glaze to his pots when they have reached a state potters call “leather-hard” – when the clay has stiffened up enough to handle but is not completely dry. He then carves through the glaze into the still damp clay to achieve various signature patterns you can see on his pots.

Childs encourages people to encounter his work the same way they are made: with hands. Through touch, visitors can appreciate texture, particularly the contrast between the smooth glazed areas and the rougher, hardened edges of the carved surface. The shapes and curves of the pot have always been his primary interest, and color and pattern are used to enhance and emphasize its form.

For painter Nancy Smith, the varied natural environments of our planet take the spotlight. Inspired by the colors and patterns of different regions including deserts, mountains, and forests, Smith says her challenge was figuring out how to express her emotional experience of a scene with paint. Since she most often creates from a memory, she tries to absorb a place on an unconscious level before she can successfully create it on a canvas.

She starts with an underpainting of colors that remind her of an environment and often draws a grid on top. She then works with images she sees in the underpainting, using paint or mixed media to accentuate them. The result is a collection of memories in each painting of an area she has experienced.

For scratchboard artist Sally Terrell, “Earthly Realms” brought several definitions to mind – a kingdom, domain, or sphere of activity, a primary zoogeographical area, or a field of knowledge.  In non-physical terms, it could refer to planes of existence, dimensions, or worlds, which gave her a lot of latitude to play with.

She has always been drawn to animals, and she often includes them in her work. For this series, the animal theme fits perfectly and has taken the form of birds on a branch or hanging around water, a stag in the forest, a Highland cow in a field of grass, a wolf lying in the snow – each in their ‘realm’. One piece “Sunflower Magic” leans partially toward the non-physical realm, inspired by the changes in the honeybee’s habitat. Another, “Sunset Species,” focuses on endangered animals, encouraging us to think about their possible fate and whether it is inevitable.

Terrell’s message rings clear: that animals are not only important to our world, but as co-habitants of our own earthly realms.

An opening reception for Earthly Realms will be held during Hillsborough’s Last Friday Artwalk, on August 29^th from 6-9pm.
Nationally recognized accordionist David Digiuseppe, will play music on the patio during the reception.

An Artist Talk by Garry Childs, Nancy Smith and Sally Terrell will be held in the Gallery on Saturday, September 13^th at 4 p.m. 

About the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts: The Hillsborough Gallery of Arts is owned and operated by 20 local artists and represents these established artists exhibiting contemporary fine art and fine craft. The Gallery’s offerings include oil, acrylic and watercolor painting, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, glass, scratchboard, fiber art, and handcrafted furniture. 121 N. Churton Street, Hillsborough, NC 27278. Phone: (919) 732-5001. The gallery is open 10am-6pm Monday – Saturday, and 12pm-4pm on
Sunday. More information can be found on the HGA website: http://www.HillsboroughGallery.com

August 26 – September 21