Luminous Landscapes: The Art of Ann Garney
FAYETTE, Mo. – Thirty brightly colored oil paintings representing
landscapes and architecturally interesting buildings the Americas and
Europe will be the featured works of Kansas City artist Anne Garney in a
new exhibition opening May 31 in The Ashby-Hodge Gallery of American Art
at Central Methodist University.
Titled
“Luminous Landscapes,” the exhibition highlights a vibrant collection of
work done over a several-year period by Garney, an artist who began her
career as a homebuilder and designer before taking up painting as her
profession. She first earned a bachelor’s degree in business
administration and accounting from the University of Kansas. Later,
after realizing that art was her heart’s desire, Garney undertook
additional studies in art at the Kansas City Art Institute.
“In 1990, I sold my house and quit my job and started painting full
time,” Garney says, adding that she has never regretted the decision. “I
had considered art in college but didn’t think it was practical. I kind
of made a promise to myself to someday see about art.”
A chance to spend 10 weeks in Monaco in the late ’90s and to travel in
Western Europe cemented Garney’s desire to continue as a full-time
artist. She has returned to Rome and Florence and France several times
since then and has also traveled to Brazil, Mexico, St. Thomas in the
U.S. Virgin Islands and Aspen, Colo., to continue her work.
Garney says her work is primarily influenced by the French Fauve and
Impressionist artists. Her paintings are described as “celebrations of
life” that convey the joyful experience of painting in beautiful
settings. “I’m fascinated by color and color relationships,” she says,
adding, “My paintings are primarily landscapes exploring the energy and
emotion inspired by local, cultural sights and scenery.”
Garney’s paintings have been featured in art shows in a variety of
venues, including the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art in St. Joseph, the
Huntsman Gallery in Aspen, Colo., and the Wicker Wood Gallery on St.
John in the Virgin Islands. She was recently selected to have her work
featured in the Anguilla International Art Festival. In January, her
paintings were featured in the Mango Tango Gallery on St. Thomas in the
Virgin Islands.
The exhibition of Garney’s art at The Ashby-Hodge Gallery will run
through July 7. Gallery hours will be from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. A reception for the artist will be
held from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. June 5. For more information about the
exhibition or to schedule group tours, contact gallery curator Dr. Joe
Geist at (660) 248-6304 (Office) or 248-6324 (Gallery) or by e-mail at
jgeist@coin.org.
As part of the exhibition, a number of The Ashby-Hodge Gallery’s
permanent collection of lithographs will be on display in the gallery
annex.
