Carol Barber | A Year in Gestures
August 23, 2020
From September 4-25, 2020, New City Arts presents A Year in Gestures, an exhibit of paintings by Carol Barber.
Welcome Gallery is now open by appointment only. To learn how to schedule an appointment to see Carol Barber’s exhibit, email Lindsey at lindsey@newcityarts.org.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My work is about process and discovery mixing painting, drawing and collage on paper and canvas. Adding collage to my practice opened new ways of working and possibilities. An intuitive way of working had given my mind freedom but I wanted my mark making and movements to be more free also. This current work is focusing on gesture, color and line. I am finding this way of working to be an emotional experience and coming from deep within my body while still being inspired by nature and what is happening in the world. At the beginning of 2020, when I decided to explore gesture, little did I know what a year it would be! This art has allowed me to release a wide range of emotions both high and low. It is also the year in which I turned 50 and I wanted art to be a way to learn to live each day to the fullest. And it has been a good teacher; giving me play, joy, connection and solace.
– Carol
“WITH AGE, ART AND LIFE BECOME ONE” – Georges Braque
MEET THE ARTIST
Carol Barber is a prolific painter residing in Barboursville, Virginia. She recieved her B.F.A from James Madison University and a M.F.A. from Radford University. Her work is in collections across the United States and is featured on four Chestnut Oak Vineyard wine labels. Carol also teaches art classes at the Arts Center in Orange, VA.
HOW TO SEE THE SHOW
Walk by Welcome Gallery at 114 3rd St. NE any time to see Carol’s work through the large storefront window.
Want to see the work up close? Private, in-person viewings will be available on weekdays between September 4 and September 25. To learn how to schedule an appointment, email Lindsey at lindsey@newcityarts.org.
HOW TO PURCHASE WORK
Check back here after September 7 for a link to Carol’s work on our store or email Lindsey at lindsey@newcityarts.org.
Image courtesy of the artist.
Located at 114 3rd St. NE, Welcome Galleryis downtown, storefront art space in Charlottesville, VA, run by New City Arts Initiative, a non-profit community arts organization. This same location houses NCAI staff offices and a studio space.
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Commissions
August 11, 2020
I am so glad I said yes to this commission! Scaling my work to two 64″ x 64″ squares presented many challenges but the results were monumental. Patrons of the arts really play such a vital role in moving artists forward. I am so thankful! Now all of my other work seems too small. Some of my goals were to have the paint be vibrant, cover large areas and flow beautifully. The presence and feeling of the paint is very important to me and with acrylics it takes mastery of mediums and tools to meet my standards.
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Abstract Workshops for Adults
February 16, 2020
Abstract Workshops for Adults
I have begun teaching an abstract workshop for adults! This is a dream come true after many years of thinking about it. However there is a learning curve for me to get the desired results from the students. One obstacle is trying to explain how I developed from traditional representational art to non figurative abstraction. This process developed for me over many years and I want to give my students the experience in three short hours. I have come to the conclusion after teaching the workshops a few times that I need to develop two classes: one for artists with previous art experience who want to depart and explore new ways of art making and another class for beginners who have limited practice making art. The beginner class would explore the basic elements of design and mark making. I have done this one once before but I need to advertise the classes to two different audiences in the future.
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365 Day Project
February 11, 2020
Happy 2020! I want to take a positive step each day into being alive and appreciating what I have. So I am following along with the journal, Make Something Every Day, by Noah Scalin in 2020. Doing this daily art prompt is helping me see visual things differently and generate new ideas. I am posting my fun and often quick explorations in a facebook album. #carolbarber365. Here are some of my favorites so far.
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Earrings and Large Paper
October 03, 2019
Last Spring and through the Summer I started painting on large paper, 18″ x 24″ and wooden shapes for earrings. I finished the first release of earrings and sold quite a few, so I am working on a second release for November 2nd, 2019. The earrings are very interesting to make. I have discovered I like quick gestures and a scraping technique the best because of the organic feeling to the paint. Sometimes this works easily but sometimes I really struggle with it. So many factors come into play from paint consistency to how much pressure I use with my hand or tool. I have discarded many attempts. I also have to make the two earrings match in mirror image which is an added challenge. The large paper has helped me to produce many pieces quickly and it is surprising how many layers of paint a piece of paper will take.
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P!NK
June 17, 2019
The highlight of my Spring besides a wonderful trip out West with my family was being in a group show called P!NK at McGuffey Art Center with other women artists that I admire. I was happy with the work that I created for the show. McGuffey Art Center
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Prints Now Available
February 16, 2019
Check out my new collection, “Touch of Earth”, on Fine Art America. This work is from a new series where I am incorporating neutral colors into my palette while exploring line, shape and mark making. The many layers and delicate lines give each abstract piece a rich surface. Fine Art America offers prints in a variety of sizes and on many products. I think the weekender tote bag looks especially nice with my art.
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Starting off 2019 with a BANG!
January 10, 2019
So excited to start 2019 off this way! My art on two labels of red wine for #chestnutoakvineyard in Barboursville, VA.
Carol Barber © 2018
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December Fun! Bus Competition
December 14, 2018
My bus design for the Tom Tom Festival Please VOTE, it is fun and only takes a second.
So fun to get the public notice I made it to the top ten for the bus design competition. The final designs have to be vectorized digitally. I converted the blue side or “Night”, but I didn’t create a vector image from my painting for the orange or “Day” side. I wish I had now, I didn’t realize these designs were going straight to public voting. But still super excited to be in the running. I have met most of the local artists and I would be happy if any of them won, there are some really good designs this year! My idea is traveling day and night to honor the bus routes.
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End of the Year Thanks!
November 19, 2018
So thankful for the opportunities I had this year! One was creating art for wine labels for Chestnut Oak Vineyard! The first has been released on their white table wine, “Alba”.
My art featured on a wine label for Chestnut Oak Vineyard
I have also enjoyed showing with the art group, BozART, this year and our final show is on the downtown Mall, 100 5th St NE, Charlottesville, VA 22902, (434) 260-1533. This is the office of Charlottesville Tomorrow and attached to the Market Street parking garage. This gallery is open during weekly business hours and the show will come down November 30. I have this new work priced on sale for the holidays, so contact me if you are interested. I am also participating in a sale on Etsy from Nov. 20 – 26, 20% off a 100. or more purchase and free domestic shipping.
