An exhibit of paintings and sculpture by MDI native Ed Davis opens August 1 at the Bass Harbor Memorial Library. Davis is a graduate of Maine College of Art and has worked over the last 60 years in a variety of mediums including: watercolor, oil, acrylics, wood, clay, cast bronze, welded steel and copper, some of which are included in the exhibit.
The exhibit includes paintings the artist created during the Covid years during which he explored the relationship between music and painting. Some of the paintings in the exhibit are visual representations of actual pieces of music. The viewer is encouraged to try to hum or sing the actual tune the painting. The artist did tests on musicians during the creation process and was encouraged when they were able to translate the visual images into music. One piece by Bach however still remains elusive to viewers. The music paintings also challenge the viewer using the principles of color perception and chromatic relationships pioneered by the artist Josef Albers and whose theories the artist studied during art school during the 1960s.
Color relationships and space are also evident in one of the sculptures “Pemetic 1 and Pemetic 2” which are two free standing sculptures that actually form a single sculpture when viewed from a single geographic point. This painted wood sculpture is an example of what the artist calls a “range sculpture” and was inspired by the navigational ranges the artist encountered when delivering boats (his day job at that time) for clients along the US coast. A navigational range is a devise that allows the viewer to locate a single geographic location when two separate fixtures come into alignment. In this case the sculpture is designed to be viewed from a single geographic location at which point the two sculptures align and combine into a single image. The artist states that in some works the “second sculpture” could also also be be something man made or naturally occurring in the nearby environment that the art work may interact with visually.
Recent work also shown includes portraits of local people as well as a painting that is part of a series the artist is currently working on about how we as humans view nature. This work titled “Interstellar” was inspired by the creation of the James Webb telescope.
A community Opening Reception for ED DAVIS : PAINTINGS THAT SING will be held on Thursday, August 3 at 5:30 PM at the Bass Harbor Memorial Library. The exhibit will be on view throughout the month of August.
Library hours are:
Sunday & Monday : CLOSED
Tuesday 10 AM – 5 PM
Wednesday 10 AM – 5 PM
Thursday 10 AM – 8 PM
Friday 10 AM – 5 PM
Saturday 10 AM – 2 PM