Two Opening Receptions Draw Attention to Local Artists

Gaithersburg got a two-in-one deal Tuesday night with two artists' receptions—one at the Arts Barn and one across the street at the Kentlands Mansion.

The reception for the North Bethesda Camera Club was held at the Mansion, while simultaneously the reception for the Outloud Painters was held at the Arts Barn.

Andi Rosati, Facilities Director at the Arts Barn, said that ten years ago, a group of Gaithersburg citizens voted to house the city's Cultural Arts Center in the Kentlands.

"The Arts Barn fosters a community atmosphere in an intimate setting that combines the visual and performing arts," she said at the October 19th Outloud Painters' reception.

Painter, sculptor and jeweler, Miriam Rylands and the Gaithersburg-based painter Natalya B. Parris are also showing their work in the Arts Barn Invitational gallery until November 14th.

A group of 12, the Outloud Painters are a collective of abstract artists who paint together at the Yellow Barn Gallery in Glen Echo every Saturday morning. They make a point of critiquing one another to encourage growth and innovation.

"We work together to support each other. Being an artist is not easy," said Carol Jason, who has three ethereal, medium-sized, acrylic paintings in the show.

Donna McGee's earthy "Keepsake" sold during the reception. "I never name something based on what you see," she commented. "Abstract art is in the eye of the beholder, and I don't want to influence the viewer's perception of my work."

Tory Cowles, who combines acrylic paint with fabric in her larger than life paintings, elaborated on the abstract working process. Her eyes gleamed with vision, even as she spoke: "When you put one color next to another, they talk to each other. I just react to what's on the canvass and paint my stream of consciousness. The hardest part is deciding to cover up an area that you really like for the sake of composition."

Crouched over his guitar near the stair that leads up to the Arts Barn theatre, Percy Vasquez was serenading the crowd throughout the evening.

As I headed out of the Arts Barn and across the street to the Kentlands Mansion for the photography show, Jackie Stevens, a city employee who works at the Arts Barn noted that having both openings on the same night increases exposure for the artists and builds up great synergy.

With its high ceilings and classical decor, The Kentlands Mansion provides a somber and stately setting for "America the Beautiful," a series of photographs by the North Bethesda Camera Club.

The show included 50 artists juried from the 150 total membership. The club also runs programs, training sessions and holds competitions and exhibits locally to encourage the professional growth of its members.

Bob Dargel, President of the club, provided some insight into the focused eye of the trained photographer.

"They try to see the picture before they capture it on film." His own photographs of California redwoods were shot with a semi-professional Canon SLR.

Les Trachtman, who has a dramatic perspectival shot of the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco in the show, added that he hopes the practice of photography can bring positive growth into people's lives.

Back at the Arts Barn, Miriam Rylands who divides her time between Gaithersburg, Bethesda and Brazil, exhibited her smooth marble sculptures of reclining figures, evocative of Henry Moore's nudes. She also paints, and her copper and silver bracelets are available for sale in the City Arts Shop at the Arts Barn.

Last but not least, the work of Natalya B. Parris, who teaches children's art classes at the Arts Barn, adorns the brick walls of the Invitational Gallery with her meticulously designed and executed acrylic paintings. Her subjects include flowers, geometric compositions and experimental swirls of color.

Parris makes acrylic paint melt into ineffable depths through surface mixing or careful layering of dotted dabs. Inspired by Georgia O'Keefe and the local color of Gaithersburg, Natalya prioritizes composition and color theory as she constructs bejeweled fields of waterlillies, overlapping circles, leaves and petals. Trained as an engineer in Moscow, Natalya treats acrylic paint as if it were a natural mineral with sculptural physical qualities as she builds up her paintings.

With 54 pieces on view, the exhibit at the Arts Barn is up until November 14th and the 50-piece photography show at the Kentlands Mansion until November 21st.