Opening Reception David McKay & Joanne Hunt at Gallery 78

Gallery 78 Opening ReceptionMemory, emotion, observation, and introspection all play a role in the paintings of both David McKay and Joanne Hunt.

David McKay, whose work draws from memory, the land, and an awareness of the people who have gone before, studies the human condition over time and how we are all connected through shared heritage.

Joanne Hunt pays attention to the moments of daily life, magnifying and drawing our attention to the fleeting and delicate notes of our surroundings, often here but for a moment.

Join these two artists for their reception at Gallery 78 on Friday, May 27th, 5-7 pm. Click here to visit the gallery online and please visit the exhibitions in person until Sunday, June 19th.

David McKay: Ancestral RootsDavid McKay: Ancestral Roots

David McKay is interested in heritage and ancestry, both personal and shared. Many of his paintings are born of imagination based on memories that evoke emotion. In each of these paintings David shares imagery from his remembered personal history living in New Brunswick and from his visit in 2015 to the lands of his ancestors: Scotland and Ireland. David feels a connection to the countries of his ancestors. In Scotland he experienced a stoic seriousness, which reminded him of his father, while in Ireland he found an easier and carefree attitude. Both personalities lie within him and take turns coming to the surface in his everyday life. He muses that: “Our genetic makeup is passed on for hundreds of generations, and I often wonder how much a part it plays in our present day personality and behaviour.”

Juxtaposed with the familiarity he has with New Brunswick, Scotland’s big and expansive landscape provided David with a challenge and an opportunity to stretch himself as an artist. Altering his technique to fit the subject matter, he found success using a bigger brush and bolder brush strokes. The common thread in these paintings from near and far is rooted in David’s personal lineage and family history. Together they create a thoughtful and thought provoking whole. David McKay is an elected member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. Please join the artist for his reception: Friday, May 27th, 5-7 pm at Gallery 78.

Joanne Hunt: A Walk in the GardenJoanne Hunt: A Walk in the Garden

Joanne Hunt’s paintings are clear and vivid, bright yet soft, evoking a warm summer day and “A Walk in the Garden”. The luscious peonies, the stunning rhododendron, the delicate hydrangea, each depicted in meticulous detail, bring us to our calm centre and quietly insist that we pay attention. Magnified, these white blossoms take on all the hues, tones, and shades of colour. Blue, pink, purple, yellow, green and gold all contribute to the overall effect of the paintings, giving them a tonal softness and quiet atmosphere which has become her signature. Joanne invites us to meditate on nature’s elegant designs of intricate patterns and soft hues. She is fascinated by the fragile qualities of delicate flowers and inspired to capture them in that moment before wind and weather take them away. For this artist, there is nothing quite like nature to put a mind at ease and bring beauty to one’s surroundings.

With a passion for light and depth, Joanne investigates subtle details and patterns. Each painting invites the viewer to simply take a moment to pause in their busy day to enjoy and unwind. An elected member of the prestigious Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour (CSPWC, 2002), the Society of Canadian Artists (SCA, 2005) and the International Guild of Realism (IGOR, 2015), Joanne Hunt has won numerous awards and continues to grow in favour with collectors across Canada, the US and abroad. Please join the artist for her reception: Friday, May 27, 5-7 pm at Gallery 78.

Gallery 78

Gallery 78 is located at 796 Queen Street (corner of Church and Queen Streets) in downtown Fredericton. They are open Tuesday to Friday 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday 10 am to 3 pm, Sunday 1-4 pm, and by appointment. They welcome your next visit. For more information telephone (506) 454-5192 or toll free at 1-888-883-8322. Email the gallery at art@gallery78.com or visit them online at www.gallery78.com.

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