Press Release

The New Generation Of Hudson River School Painters

The Harrison Gallery will present a show of landscape paintings by local Kingston artist, Jane Bloodgood-Abrams and New York City artist, Kathy Buist.  The show will run from May 30th – June 25th.  The artists will be attending the show's opening reception on Saturday, May 30th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

Like Thomas Cole, Frederic Church and George Inness before them, these 2nd generation Hudson River School artists capture those moments in nature when light and the scenic elements converge to create a distinct and transcendental emotional impression.

Bloodgood-Abrams' vast and voluminous skies often dominate her paintings, adding drama and energy to the landscape. "I like big skies," she says, "they are more universal than the landscape and therefore the overall work is more universal. With skies I can work with the drama of light and dark to create paintings that are soul-stirring and transcend the landscape below."

As a painter, Bloodgood-Abrams considers herself a "luminist" or a "tonalist". "By either name," she says, "I create the illusion of light coming from the canvas by applying multiple layers of paint and glaze until I get the gentle glow I'm looking for."

Like Abrams, Kathy Buist's work mainly focuses on the element of sky, pushing towards abstraction.  She explores the forms and contrasts of landscape in a way that is at once dramatic and deeply honest. When Buist sees a landscape, she always tries to look beyond the structures of what she sees and into something more inward, more elemental.

Buist's inspiration to paint landscapes she says "comes from my absolute love of nature."  "I love the way it looks, feel, smells; its magnificent power and grace, from the most powerful storm and crashing waves to the wind blowing softly across your face.  The beauty of the light form morning to night – how the intensity of color changes, from the vibrant reds, greens, magentas."

The Harrison Gallery is located at 39 Spring Street in Williamstown, MA.  Gallery hours are Monday - Saturday, 10AM to 5:30PM, Sunday 11AM to 4PM.  For further information, please contact The Harrison Gallery at (413) 458-1700 or visit our website at www.theharrisongallery.com.