Jan. 24, 2007 – Mango Tango Art Gallery will present the Surprise Trio Exhibition at a champagne reception given for the artists from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 26, at the gallery, with music by Two Blue Shoes. The artists, Lucinda Schutt-O'Connell, Patty Tacquard and W.B. Thompson, have each explored new territory.
Lucinda Schutt-O'Connell has been teaching art to locals and visitors, first as the artist in residence on St. John at Caneel and for the last few years as the artist in residence at the Ritz Carlton, St. Thomas. When she is not teaching classes at the resort, she is working in her studio on Crystal Gade. Having established herself as a watercolor virtuoso, she began exploring painting on canvas in oil. Her grouping in the exhibition sparks with a sense of discovery. Her compositions range from representational to abstract.
Patty Tacquard has been exploring light and shadow on water worshippers –surfers, sunbathers and swimmers. For the last four years at Mango Tango, she has excelled in painting shadowed figures and sparkling water. For the current show, she switched to exploring reflections in contained water from vessels to aquariums. She will be showing paintings of fruit or flowers in water filled jars and vases, and figures in front of water creatures at the zoo.
Mixed-media artist W.B. Thompson decided that a section of portraiture would give him a challenge. Gallery co-owner Jane Coombes commissioned him to paint her. "I am so pleased. I would never have asked a photo realist to paint me. I and others who commissioned him, such as Phillip Sturm and avid Thompson collectors Cynthiana Lightfoot and Susan Gordley were looking for an exuberant interpretation of who we are. The final paintings are just that." Thompson has also painted vistas, historical buildings and figurative allegorical works.
The show continues for one month. A complimentary shuttle will be provided to the Red Hook Ferry, for 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. departure to Cruz Bay.
For more information, call 777-3060.
