A new exhibition, “Metamorphosis” opens Saturday at Montrose’s Archway Gallery, one of the country’s oldest artist-owned and operated galleries. The nature-inspired art exhibit, which will run through May 2, features work from Liz Conces Spencer and Joan Laughlin, who interpret the natural world through paintings, drawings, mosaics, and sculpture. Here’s more about Spencer’s journey as an artist.
What drew you to work as an artist?
“I come from a family of people who make things. Both of my parents followed that tradition. My grandmother lived next door to us and she sewed. She taught me to sew. They had a barn on the property that we shared with them. They let me use the barn for a studio. I was encouraged from a very early age to develop the ability to work in solitude and to pull from the natural environment that I was fortunate enough to live in.”
What can guests expect to see at ‘Metamorphosis’?
“This is a show that I am sharing with my colleague Joan Laughlin, who is an incredible painter. She paints realistically, but they’re so real, they verge on another world of abstraction. Joan’s a nurse. My intuition is that these paintings are very meditative and reflective for her to create. My work on the opposite end of the spectrum attaches great meaning to abstraction. I pattern the landscape opposed to painting it realistically. So, we approach the same subject matter but from two different methods of work. I think viewers will find an interesting juxtaposition of styles.”
Where’s your favorite place to spend time in nature?
“I started in college going over to Hermann Park quite a bit because I was at the University of St. Thomas. Hermann Park has always been a source of great joy for me. I love the Arboretum. [It’s] just a magical place.”
Last month, I got a quick tour of Archway Gallery, which is filled with beautiful work from local artists.
In case you’re interested in planting a new tree in your backyard, free tree seedlings will be given away all month at Archway Gallery in honor of the new exhibit.
