In 2019, the American Tonalist Society had its first curated show at the iconic Salmagundi Club, dubbed “one of the grandest exhibitions that have graced these walls,” by Tim Newton, former president of the club. The show, typically meant to take place every two years, was then canceled in 2021 due to the pandemic. And now, four years later, the long-awaited Shades of Gray II exhibition and sale is finally back. Opening Friday, April 28, the event showcases more than 60 works of art from 33 esteemed artists. Capturing a sense of atmosphere, nature and raw emotion, these artists represent some of the very best examples of American tonalism today across mediums like oil, pastel and watercolor.
Thomas Kegler, Summer Song, Song of Solomon 1:4, oil, 12 x 9"
“The elegant, historic Salmagundi Club is hosting the American Tonalist Society’s biennial show, Shades of Gray II.The club’s hallways have been adorned with tonalist paintings for over a century, including works by George Inness, John Francis Murphy and Bruce Crane,” says John MacDonald, show chairman and participating artist. “The Signature Artists in this exhibition were selected based on the quality of the work and their dedication to tonalism. This collection of work in various mediums evokes mood and mystery, and represents the current tonalist movement with an excellent blend of the traditional and the contemporary.” A Signature Member of the American Tonalist Society, Shawn Krueger lives and keeps a home studio in Grand Rapids, Michigan. But lately, the mountains of western North Carolina, the Lake Huron shoreline or the woods (anywhere) have been his main sources of inspiration. “As was true of many of my American tonalist forebears, I tend to seek out less obviously beautiful, less epic scenery. The subject matter and I exist in quiet spaces,” he reflects.
Shawn Krueger, No Sign of Distant Shore, oil on canvas, 16 x 27"
John MacDonald, April - Silent Dusk, oil on panel, 12 x 18"
A misty, ethereal haze diffuses the light across boggy marshlands in Thomas Kegler’s oil Summer Song, Song of Solomon 1:4. “An early autumn sunrise over a marshland gives rise to a chorus of migrating waterfowl. I am drawn to capturing the subtle understated color harmonies of an atmospheric landscape as the earth exhales the moisture that had settled the prior evening,” he says.
Other participating artists include D. Eleinne Basa (show co-chair), Denise LaRue Mahlke, Daniel Ambrose, Jennifer Moses, Deborah Paris, Nancy Bush, Richie Carter, Erik Koeppel, Brent Cotton and more.
Kim Lordier, Kinda Like Diamonds in the Sky, pastel, 20 x 24"
The Shades of Gray II exhibition and sale kicks off with a Patron Preview and Public Opening Reception and awards ceremony on April 28. The week-long event also includes painting demonstrations by Dennis Sheehan and Ken Salaz, as well as a chance to win a painting by Basa. Artwork is for sale on a first-come, first-served basis starting on April 28. The show remains on view through May 7. —
Shades of Gray II
When: April 28-May 7, 2023
Where: The Salmagundi Club (Parlor Gallery), 47 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003
Information: www.americantonalistsociety.com
Powered by Froala Editor
