Elder Art Gallery: March 2002

Elder Art Gallery Gallery Presents:

Men on Art

“Yes, this show gets a definite three snaps and two thumbs up!” says Larry Elder, Owner of Elder Art Gallery Gallery in Charlotte’s South End District. Men on Art. will feature the work of four accomplished Southeastern artists. Carl Blair, from Greenville, SC; Jim Creal, of Spartanburg, SC; Paul Ladnier of Jacksonville, FL; and Wayne Trapp of Boone, NC, will provide new work to demonstrate diverse artistic styles.

“Our March show is destined to be an extremely powerful exhibition. It’s easy to see why this work has been widely accepted by corporate collectors as well as individual collectors,” says Elder. “This show promises to be exciting as well as provocative.”

Creal and Trapp are Elder Art Gallery’s most recent additions to its list of exceptional artists. Blair and Ladnier have become two of Charlotte’s favorite artists and have recently been added to a number of private and corporate collections through their affiliation with Elder Art Gallery Gallery.

Men on Art will feature works on canvas and paper and will cover a wide spectrum of subject matter.

Paul Ladnier’s work features a number of nude figures and inviting still life pieces. His paintings use vibrant colors to capture his subject matter. The figure paintings incorporate luminescent hues to portray realistic skin tones.

Wayne Trapp’s abstract paintings are powerful representations of his feelings of world events and people who have had an influence on his life. The exhibition will include a number of simple ink drawings on paper that were created in his studio with a live model. He uses a disciplined approach to capture the figure in motion with six brush strokes or less. The resulting work is a sophisticated rendition of the model’s movement across the surface of the painting. In addition to his paintings, Trapp will show three of his exceptional bonze sculptures.

“Wayne Trapp’s paintings, drawings and sculptures demonstrate his incredible talent as a multi-faceted artist with national recognition,” says Elder. “This show will introduce Wayne as one of Elder Art Gallery’s most admired and collected artists.”

Carl Blair is widely acclaimed for his colorful, impressionistic landscapes that have been shown in collections around the world. Included in the show will be a large oil painting that was included in the U.S. Senate’s “Art in the Embassies” program. The painting hung in the U.S. Embassy in Mauritania, Africa for three years. The remaining paintings have just been completed for Men on Art.

Jim Creal will exhibit his unique monotypes that reflect his life experiences and his connection to the world of geology. After graduating with a degree in Philosophy from Washington and Lee University Creal changed his plans and became a mineral exploration geologist after earning a second degree in Geology from the University of Montana. He worked in Scotland as an exploration geologist and was selected to be part of a discovery team that outlined a world class deposit of barite and lead, zinc and silver sulfides. That discovery of a deposit of this magnitude is considered by most geologists as a once in a career experience.

Creal later returned to the University of Montana and studied monotype printmaking and graduated with a BFA. The work in this show reflects very strongly his connection with the earth and his interest in the healthy balance of nature.

Operating hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Private appointments are encouraged. The Men on Art show will open on March 1st and run through April 3rd.

Elder Art Gallery Gallery
1427 South Boulevard • Suite 101 • Charlotte, NC 28203
704-370-6337