JACKSON, Wyo. — Spring in the mountains, ever an elusive season, feels all the more so this year. To mark this moment, Altamira Fine Art opens its exhibition season with a tone of reflection.
Altamira will host “Elusive Moments” from June 15-27 with an artist reception on Thursday, June 18 from 5-8 p.m.
“Elusive Moments” features a trio of artists attuned to the present, the state of the world (human and natural) and the hope inherent in enduring such precarious times.
- September Vhay translates ephemeral scenes into their most essential expressions.
- A sensitivity shared by her sister, Erica Vhay focuses on moments of potential amid vulnerability, experienced in private or public.
- Douglas Fryer, in his debut with Altamira, confronts the dichotomy between natural and spiritual forms, achieving an elusive balance in each painting.
All three artists bear witness to the wondrous possibility of being present — an awareness Altamira embraces as the gallery welcomes its community back into a space of collective art appreciation.
Click HERE to view the artwork that will be displayed at this exhibition from these three artists.
Looking ahead to June, each artist shared their thoughts on their new work:
September Vhay
In my paintings, I focus on such subtle moments. I will take 200 photographs but only a singular picture captures the essence of the scene—when the composition comes together and I am inspired by an expression. I’ll be watching, watching, watching, and then I get this intuitive hit — there’s a painting.
Sometimes, I don’t sense that special moment; I’ll be watching wildlife or horses and nothing happens. Capturing such moments feels like the culmination of all of my studies in architecture, art and observations over time. The composition gels, the expression gels, the concepts click. Such beautiful moments for which to be present.
In both my paintings and my drawings, I’m pushing myself toward even more minimalism. Drawing helps me play with that freshness by removing color as an entity. There is a directness for the viewer. My distant cousin, artist Marilyn Borglum, gave me an incredible compliment. She said I have a light hand. I strive for efficiency: saying as much as possible with as little effort.
Douglas Fryer
In my work, I continually confront the dichotomy between mimicking reality and conveying idealism. Looking at natural forms as well as spiritual forms. Being objective but also subjective. Copying nature but also inventing. It’s challenging for me to recognize both sides of those relationships.
There’s a lot of emotion in these paintings. There’s constant motion. Some aspects melt away and blur, while others are more clarified. I’m trying to define the subject by elements that are not necessarily visible. Like listening to the rustle of leaves, water, wind. A cloud is there and then it’s not. A field is in shadow and now light.
I want to convey a passage of time. I have to sense those things and remember them. There has to be a dialogue. I leave myself open to questions and surprises, which requires me to vigilantly aware. Surprises disappear if I’m not careful. I let the painting talk to me. It has intelligence. In those times, I am most surprised and stunned by the possibilities.
Erica Vhay
My work is often about capturing a moment — a vulnerable moment. Women have usually been my focus, mostly because of the pressure our culture puts on women to be everything: moms, partners, professionals. I try to find moments when women aren’t on task, when they are relaxing, when they occupy a quiet space.
My landscapes capture a moment as well, of sharing space, of moving together. There’s community in these moments, even if no one knows anybody else. There is a sense of all of humanity in these moments. We are navigating such moments together.
This body of work epitomizes “spring” — hopeful and new. New beginnings can arise from frustrating and difficult times. I wanted to keep the work intimate and sweet. People need that right now; they are yearning for that human sweetness. I’m an optimist. I get excited thinking about what could be.
What will this new norm become? We are living in a moment of possibility. In all of this work, I see hopefulness and renewal.
For more information about the show and the artists, please contact Altamira Fine Art by email at connect@altamiraart.com or by phone at (307) 739-4700.
