“Turtle Race” by Judson Pealer
NORWAY — The Western Maine Art Group continues its summer season with a First Friday Reception on August 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. The reception will be held at the Main Street Gallery, 426 Main Street, in Norway. In addition, the “Then and Now” exhibit at the Matolcsy Art Center, 480 Main Street, will be open. These galleries exhibit the work of fine artists and artisans living and working in Western Maine.
The featured artist for August at the Western Maine Art Group’s Main Street Gallery is Judson Pealer, whose theme is “Something Fishy.” Pealer’s display includes several paintings in acrylic paint of fish created in the past year. “I dedicate this show to my Dad. I have many childhood memories of him taking me fishing when I was a little boy. I was thrilled with the adventure and when we caught something the innate curiosity brought forth wonder for the world we live in.” Pealer’s work includes bright color combinations of various types of fish in a playful cartoon style. “They are not necessarily biologically identifiable but rendered with a spark of joy and wonder.” He is known as an abstract artist and when asked about the emergence of these fish he says, “I wonder about that. It is another way to explore our own situation. How are these creatures like us? They face limitations just like we do. I think they are a push back against the confinements many of us have felt during the pandemic as well as expressing some of the helplessness we may have felt about our situation.”
Pealer has a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art from Ohio State University. He has been a member of the Western Maine Art Group for 5+ years. He finds inspiration in nature, dreams, and memory. He is a retired Episcopal priest who lives in South Paris and has been expressing himself all his life in paint.
The Main Street Gallery is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 to 5, and Saturdays from 10 to 2.
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