“Flower,” 20″ x 16″, $2075

“Bubbles,” 9″ x 12″, $1200

“Boutique,” 24″ x 13″, $1975

Currently Fred Calleri uses each piece as a new lesson. The desire is to have a goal for each piece that may relate to mood, palette, light or expression. By looking at the way Sargent used his palette or Vermeer’s light and use of pattern, Calleri is able to garner a small lesson from that and use it from that point onward. As he explores different paths, the figure resonates throughout each piece. While exploring the figure and representational painting in general, Calleri found by adding a slight distortion he was free to let the image take him where it wanted to go. By distorting the image the bonds of reality and style become less commanding and the piece develops a style on its own.

Last night I arrived home at midnight from a whirlwind trip to the Sun Valley/Ketchum, ID area.  About 5 hours north of Park City, Sun Valley has incredible galleries, restaurants, biking, hiking, and skiing (later in the year!). We were amazed by the friendliness of the community and the events and activities that they have to offer their summer visitors.  It’s about as fabulous as Park City in the summer time… well, almost!

Gilman Contemporary Gallery, Ketchum [Ashley Collins Dog, Left]

Friesen Gallery, Ketchum [Michael Kessler painting]

There are quite a bit fewer galleries in the Ketchum area than there are here in Park City, but ones that are there are all top notch. Gilman Contemporary has received the Best Gallery award for two years in a row, but it is Gail Severn Gallery that truly stands alone. This vast gallery showcases artists from Chris Reilly, to Michael Gregory and (my favorite) Marcia Myers. Gallery MAR’s Michael Kessler exhibits at Friesen Gallery (who also has a location in Seattle) and his works truly shine in this space. Another highlight is Kneeland Gallery, who showcases local Utah artists and one of my personal friends Shanna Kunz.

Gail Severn Gallery, Ketchum [James Cook landscape]

What an inspiration to see so much fantastic art in a small town. In addition to the art tour, my husband and I rented bikes– we rode down to a bridge and jumped into the river for a quick cool off, then rode back to sit on the lawn and enjoy the Sun Valley Summer Symphony play with Garth Brooks for an incredible concert. Sunday brought us up to the Sawtooth Mountains and some river rafting on the Salmon. Whew! For a 30 hour trip, we certainly packed it in.

Bridgette Meinhold, from her “Family of Trees” series, Encaustic, 2010

Last fall, I purchased one of Bridgette Meinhold’s figurative encaustic and mixed media works from Phoenix Gallery’s miniature show. The artist dropped by my gallery a few weeks later and introduced herself. As I came to learn more about Meinhold (formerly Steffen), I decided to add her works to our 2nd Annual Local Fireworks show, here at Gallery MAR this weekend.

Where she lives, this artist has nature at her beck and call, and her pieces are inspired by her surroundings– aspen trees, mountain vistas, wildlife, and the changing seasons. In her latest encaustic works, we are seeing families of trees as they grow and change with each season (see above). The surface quality of her wax paintings is thick and lush– many layers go into each work, and graphite transfers are common. Later this summer, we will feature a group of works inspired by the plight of the honey bee, for our “Bee Conscious” series.

Last night, I visited Meinhold in her studio in Brighton Estates, over the back of Deer Valley. She lives there with her fireman husband Matt, on what they call the “Meinhold Compound.” Dog Cooper met us at their door, and we got a tour of the grounds (see below for pictures). Her studio and Matt’s workshop are each a divided half of a reclaimed shipping crate. They’re insulated and rigged the crate into a lovely (albeit narrow) space in which to work. Their whole space is incredible, and the hiking straight from their front door is divine. What a life…

Come by the gallery on Saturday from 3 to 5 pm to meet Meinhold and all of our local artists for our “Local Fireworks” celebration.

The Meinhold compound and [shipping container] studio

“Bread and Blue” by Randall Lake—Reception on Friday, May 28th, 2010

New works by Utah artist Randall Lake

“A skull is more interesting than a naked woman” -Ingmar Bergman’s “The Seventh Seal”

Randall Lake is a man who should have been born 150 years ago. He lives his life with a turn-of-the-century mentality, having an appreciation for manners, letter writing, antiques, and fine art. During his career forty+ year career, he has accumulated an impressive resume of awards, commissions, and collections.

For this new “Blue” body of work, Lake’s ideas came to him in the middle of the night; he got “slammed with the idea and had to draw it out, right then and there in the kitchen” and then worked on the piece the next day, using his brush as a cudgel. The new work is focused on human misery, and inspired by Goya’s “Disasters of War.” For Lake, the work is intensely personal: “The imagery in these works, I saw this and I witnessed this.”

This work is Randall Lake’s life. These paintings are coming honestly from this artist, without censure. “Bread and Blue” reminds us that it’s the struggle that brings people together, and not perfection. Moving away from teacups, dinghies, florals, and portraits, Randall is now embarking on a new frontier. He is no longer fulfilled, faithfully painting the realistic way objects or landscapes look.

As we celebrate Gallery MAR‘s one year anniversary, we are in good company! Thank you to the Park Record, Park City Magazine, and Southwest Art Magazine for their diligent coverage of our fantastic artists and events. Select the publications below to view our latest press.

Please join us for Gallery MAR’s “Local Fireworks” First Anniversary Exhibition, Friday July 3rd from 6 to 9 p.m. Mark your calendar and plan to join us in Park City to see new artworks by our local artists, including Aaron Memmott, Penelope Moore, Ron Russon, Jan Perkins, Shirley McKay, Cristall Harper, Kerry Soper, and Adam Winegar.

Photography: Timothy Thimmes

Park City Magazine “Art For Everyone” Summer/Fall 2009

“Connecting people with art. That is the mantra of Park City’s Gallery MAR…”

Park Record “Gallery MAR Celebrates” – June 2009

“ Celebrate Independence Day along with the first anniversary of Gallery MAR, 580 Main Street, with owner Maren Bargreen at 6 p.m. Friday, July 3rd…”

Southwest Art Magazine “Art in 3-D, Giuseppe Palumbo” – July 2009

“Duet is a recent work in a series based on observation…”

Southwest Art Magazine “Art in 3-D, Fran Nicholson” – July 2009

“When people see “Ball” they often smile and say, ‘I know a dog like that!’…

Salt Lake Tribune “Visual Arts Notes: Life on MAR” – May 2009

“One year anniversaries aren’t the stuff of legacies, to be sure. They are, however, signs of life and staying power all the same…”