From July 5 through the end of August, Milwaukee’s Lily Pad Gallery West is hosting its third annual FORWARDexhibition, a group show of more than 100 artworks by 10 Wisconsin artists. Styles will range from hyperrealism to abstraction with many representational depictions of local spaces and places. This year’s show is also a tribute to Allison B. Cooke, the first Wisconsin artist to join the gallery and who recently passed.
Antwan Ramar, Front Runner, oil on canvas, 24 x 20"
In addition to Cooke, the other artists in the show include Marc Anderson, Steve Gerhartz, Robert M. Girsh, Michael Guinane, Shelby Keefe, Bruce Niemi, Antwan Ramar, Ken Schneider, John Waite and Diane Washa.
The title of the show refers to the state’s simple, one-word motto adopted in 1851, and speaks to both the character of the people of Wisconsin and how, even amidst grief, we have no choice but to press forward.
“Growing up in Wisconsin, I felt the people of this state displayed a kind and humble stoicism,” says Ramar. “…A ‘can-do’ mindset without the need to boast or gain validation, just the reward of a job done right for God and nature to see. Forward is the only way to go, in art, as in life. A faith in the process, a surrender to what is.”
Marc Anderson, Valley Farm, oil on board, 15 x 30"
For Ramar, sailing exemplifies these qualities and is the subject of his painting Front Runner. “Sailing the Great Lakes has been a fascination of mine since I was a teenager doing smaller regattas on little lakes around the Midwest,” he says. “I wanted to do a few paintings exploring Lake Michigan sailing culture, showing some of the unique challenges and beauty that freshwater brings.”
For Waite, who will be showing the tightly-rendered Big Bill’s, the word forward is evocative of the traveler’s journey. “For the gallery, I thought the word represented a challenge to new ideas for beauty and exciting visual comments that offer expression for the times we find ourselves in now,” says the artist. “In my work, the way forward is accepting the surprises and challenges a painting presents me with. I am a student, and the painting in a way is quietly waiting for me to see what it needs.”
John Waite, Big Bill’s, oil on canvas, 26 x 32"
Valley Farm, by Anderson, depicts a farm in the Driftless Area of western Wisconsin. “The hilly nature of that part of the state makes for some beautiful scenery,” says Anderson. “With this piece in particular, I enjoyed the farm nestled in the valley. The neutral grays of the landscape offered a nice color and value contrast against the barns.
“To me, ‘forward’ means to never rest on your laurels and as a painter I find it incredibly relevant,” Anderson continues. “We’re curious creatures by nature, and art is about exploration and pushing the boundaries of what you know and are capable of expressing.”
Shelby Keefe, oil on canvas, Waiting for Green, 30 x 60"
A VIP and Press Preview Night will take place July 18 from 6 to 8 p.m., with Gallery Night MKE receptions on July 19 from 5 to 8 p.m., and July 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. —
Lily Pad Gallery West 215 N. Broadway Milwaukee, WI 53202 • (414) 509-5756 www.lilypadgallery.com
Powered by Froala Editor
