Gallery 527 in Jerome Welcomes Painter Kevin Geary

“Face #1”  is mesmerizing in its boldness of stroke and color. Gallery 527 in Jerome will be showing this painting plus other abstract work by Kevin Geary.

Gallery 527 in Jerome is pleased to welcome Kevin Geary to its list of fine artists. September 6, 2008 during First Saturday Jerome Art Walk, Kevin will be on hand to discuss his stunning work. Kevin’s portrait work of famous musicians, royalty and political figures is in collections throughout the world. His abstract work, which is featured at Gallery 527, is extraordinarily powerful and colorful. The works are vibrant with color and dynamic composition, derived from his many years of portraiture where knowledge of structure in anatomy is essential to a good portrait. The late artist Carel Weight, member of Royal Academy in London, wrote of Geary's work in the 1970s, "Few artists handle color as charmingly and supremely well does Mr. Geary. He is extremely talented."

Geary's abstracts often have musical titles, which reflect his great love and knowledge of music. His “Homage to Django Reinhardt” series for instance, have been painted while listening to Django Reinhardt's music on CD. (Geary also knew Stephan Grapelli who played with Django in the days of the "Hot Club of Paris" in the 30s and 40s). Geary says that if you see one of his Django Reinhardt paintings, and listen to Django playing, you'll get an even better sense of the paintings, and that they "come to life."
Geary's "Face" paintings are really amazing. They are completely imaginary, yet come out of his working with, and knowledge of, the human face and psyche, from doing his commissioned portraits for so many years. Yet he does not call them "portraits" but "faces". He likes the fact that people are either drawn to them, or repulsed by them, "Like our reactions to peoples' appearance in real life" as he says.

 

The former director of the New York State Museum in Albany, Patrick Houlihan, PhD, has written of Geary's "Face" paintings "Kevin Geary's face paintings are both visually riveting and thought-provoking. It is difficult to avert your eyes from them, for they seem to follow you about a room. They appear monumental, and when several hang together, their effect is quite extraordinary. His use of bright and largely primary colors reminds one of the Fauves, or the German Expressionist.”

Gallery 527 will also be showing new mixed media artist Elaine Joli, who has just arrived from Park City, Utah, copper woven mirrors from Tom and Jean Heffernan and music by local favorite Janice Paul. A perfect end to summer, this exciting show will be another great Jerome Art Walk experience and a chance to meet Kevin Geary. For more information contact the gallery at (928) 649-2277 or visit www.gallery527jerome.com.

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Donna Chesler
Gallery 527 - Chesler Photography
1350 Peaks View Drive
Clarkdale, AZ 86324
PH: (928)634-0774
FX: (928)634-0275
www.gallery527jerome.com
www.cheslerphotography.com