An exhibition of works by Arts on Main’s 2020 Juried Exhibition winner Jordan Flower will open at May’s First Friday, to be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, May 7, at the gallery on Main Street in Gloucester. Reservations are suggested and can be made by calling the gallery. Walks-ins are also welcome, up to a maximum of 50 people.
Her exhibit, “Un/Changing Light: Exploring Urban Landscapes,” will run until May 29.
Flower secured first place and a solo show at Arts on Main with his realistic depiction of a bridge scene, said a press release. Juror and Judge Carrie Spencer, curator of Contemporary Art & Education at The Hermitage Museum and Gardens in Norfolk, said of the piece, “The artist clearly demonstrates high quality painting skills, but what stands out about this piece is the composition. The composition captures the viewer, drawing them into the scene. The artist’s choice of viewpoint gives the viewer a unique perspective to the scene. The fact that we (the viewers) cannot see beyond the bend in the road, onto the bridge, leaves us wanting more. This composition forces us to ask questions about the scene, further engaging us.”
Flower was born in Keflavik, Iceland, to a military family, said the release. His mother nurtured his love of art from an early age, which eventually led him to pursue a career in the arts. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, he is an art teacher and remains active in the art community as a producer of fine art.
The interaction of man and nature, with special interest paid to the play of light and shadow, is the focus of Flower’s work, which is primarily representational. Flower said he loves to capture the details that give each painting its own identity. He works in acrylic, incorporating a unique layering technique in order to bring forth dimension and brightness to each painting.
“City streets that are engulfed by the light of a setting sun, a glistening snow-covered roundabout in a small town, the little details on a long forgotten Coca-Cola advert on the front of a building; this is where I find my inspiration,” said Flower. “My goal is to find the beauty in things many people overlook, the everyday made magical and meaningful.”
This First Friday event is sponsored by Will and Tish Grant. The month-long exhibition is sponsored by James and Carolyn Dudley.
For more information, visit www.gloucesterarts.org, call 804-824-9464, or email gallerymanager@gloucesterarts.org.