Sunriver Lodge Betty Gray Gallery opens 2013 with a fine art exhibition of Pat Oertley’s acrylic abstract paintings in the upper gallery and Jean Schwalbe’s acrylic landscapes in the lower gallery. The exhibition continues through February 24.
Pat Oertley, former Sunriver resident, presents abstract acrylic and oil stick paintings taken from two series of her artwork, all influenced by her life experiences. Showing are pieces from her Jazz and Layers and Fragments Series. The Jazz Series features a tone on tone palette with tinted, neutral hues of gray, terra cotta, beige and black. Both the palette of earth hues and the geometric and linear shapes painted with these hues reflect the artist’s response to jazz. Painting while listening to the works of jazz greats Dave Brubeck, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane and Charlie Mingus gave rise to the series.
From the Layers and Fragments Series is the large 4’ x 6’ acrylic abstract. Painted in multiple layers in subdued values, many in blue and green, the imagery suggests organic subjects, some perhaps of a biological origin. The artist notes, “accompanying my late husband on his journey through Alzheimer’s disease resulted in the ongoing Layers and Fragments Series.”
The artist received a BA in Fine Art from St. Mary’s College of Notre Dame and an MA in Fine Art from Columbia. She spent many years abroad living and teaching in Venezuela, Chile, Peru and Saudi Arabia.
In the lower level gallery, Jean Schwalbe shows brilliantly colored, expressionistic landscapes depicting Central Oregon. Painted in multiple saturated hues, the images include Broken Top, the Deschutes, Snake River and the Three Sisters. Billye Turner organizes exhibitions for Sunriver Resort and provides additional information at 541-832-9398.