©Paula McCarty, Spring Fever, oil on canvas, 2023, photo by Amy Penn
May’s Milk Moon has come and gone, but you still have a few days to experience the colorful, practical art of Paula McCarty and Lisa Wynette, currently on display at the Springer Cultural Center in Champaign. Filled with art history, rich color, and three-dimensional appeal, the exhibit closes this Saturday, June 15th.
In her artist statement, McCarty writes that “the experimental aspects of painting – the efficiency of brushstrokes, the viscosity of paint, the speed of application, the variety of techniques” shape much of her work. She says that curiosity and “exploration are at the heart of my work.”
The works in this exhibition engage the viewer through a series of figurative images of faces, butterflies, and art history. Her palette “reflects a penchant for muted blues, pinks, greens, and oranges.” In the Springer Cultural Center gallery space, these muted tones pop and dance as you walk through the gallery’s corridors. McCarty is in complete control with these paintings, and the playful window scenes are captivating. I was particularly impressed with her work. Untitled The work depicts a woman dressed in green peering through a magnifying glass while butterflies adorn the study scene. There is a control in the work that speaks to McCarty’s innate curiosity and invites the viewer into her world of wonder.
Spring cold (Featured image above) is another particularly moving piece, revisiting the idea of windows, with greenhouse plants gazing at the snow melting through the branches of the evergreen trees outside. The piece elicits a moment of hope and expectation in the depth of yellow around a second window, which can be seen just outside the image’s frame.
McCarty also Women who painted A series of masterpieces. I was so happy to see her colorful oil paintings on canvas. Tamara de LempickaThe vibrant green of this portrait recalls the strength of Lempicka’s own striking portraits and serves as a reminder of just how important this master of 20th century art was.
Other notable works in this series include Lois Myrow Jones and Joan BrownBoth works celebrate and explore the important contributions of women artists who have traditionally been excluded from male-dominated art history. As McCarty says in a statement, “One of the most surprising facts is that of the 318 artists represented in the H.W. Jansen collection, Basic History of Western ArtOnly 27 women are mentioned in the 9th edition.”
Lisa Wynette’s ceramic works and graphite drawings, contrasted with McCarty’s bold figurative works, bring a delicate touch to the exhibition, further drawing attention to the natural beauty around us. Over the past few years, Wynette writes, “I have developed a passion for illustrating invertebrates. What drives my obsession is the deep sense of wonder and delight I feel when interacting with these creatures.” Wynette writes that illustration allows her to explore these fascinating creatures in the controlled environment of the studio.
I was especially fascinated by her amazing details. Blue Sweat Bee And the colors she creates with her Polychromos pencils Imperial MossI was blown away by the level of research she showed into everyday creatures – the whole series is so detailed and in-depth it’s fascinating.
Wynette’s 2023 collection, “Functional Pottery,” explores one aspect of the Slow Art movement that’s captivating us right now. Wynette explains, “These slabs demonstrate the beauty and functionality that can be achieved by making pottery by hand, with much less effort, frustration, and practice. Making pottery by hand (as opposed to on a potter’s wheel) also offers a meditative experience, which aligns perfectly with the Slow Art movement.”
The exhibition closes this weekend so please take the time to view the incredible work of two of our most talented local artists.
Under the Milk Moon
By Paula McCarty and Lisa Wynette
Springer Cultural Centre
301 N Randolph
Champaign
May 4th to June 15th
Exhibition hours are during the facility’s opening hours. Please call before visiting.
