Art Market Gallery features painter, woodturner in September exhibit

Recent works by painter George Rothery and woodturner Gordon Fowler will be featured throughout September at the Art Market Gallery. An opening reception for the artists, including complimentary refreshments and live music by The Accidentals, will begin at 5:30 p.m. on September 7th, during Downtown Knoxville’s monthly First Friday Art Walk.

	Hang On by Georgia Rothery; image courtesy of the artist

The show will feature George’s marine-themed acrylic paintings, and Gordon’s wooden bowls, platters and hollow forms.

George Rothery: THE ARTIST AND NOW A WRITER—George Rothery is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a major in Marketing. After serving in the US Air Force, discharged with the rank of Captain, George became professionally involved with art when he opened galleries in Knoxville, Tennessee that became art exhibition centers for the surrounding area for the next 22 years.

After another career in manufacturer representation (Rothery Associates), George became a professional maritime artist. He picked up brush and canvas to create oils and acrylics reminiscent of the sailing and boating he loved growing up on the New Jersey shore, and later on the South Carolina coast. His paintings are in private and corporate collections from Massachusetts to Florida and from the Carolinas to Texas. He has been in many national juried shows, and his work has appeared in: American Artist, The Complete Painters Handbook, Workshop, Life on the Water, Homes and Living, and a number of newspaper articles.

George had the idea for the first Mr. Halston thriller, A SUMMER AGAIN (of a planned series of three Mr. Halston books), in the back of his mind for years. From time to time he played with the idea of getting serious about it, and really working on the old manuscript he had toyed with along the way. One day he actually decided to get serious and see what would happen. What happened is, he really fell in love with writing. Now he is consumed with writing and the reviews he has received on this book from Kirkus Reviews, Midwest Book Reviews, and others. The number two of the series is already underway. So what happens now is all up to the readers.

Gordon Fowler: I make bowls, platters, and hollow forms from wood using a woodturning lathe. I find the wood on roadsides or friends tell me about a tree they cut down. I get a kick out of “recycling” these logs that would otherwise go to a landfill or a fireplace. Most of my work is twice-turned. That means I cut the logs with a chainsaw, rough turn it, let it dry for at least six months, then turn it again to its final thickness.

Making round things is inherent to the lathe, and I’m inspired by the symbolism and symmetry of circles. I’m influenced by texture, patterns, and contrasts found in nature. I strive to create pleasing forms combined with exquisite grain patterns.

Owned and operated by more than 60 professional regional artists, the Art Market Gallery, at 422 South Gay St., is a few doors away from Mast General Store and next to Downtown Grill & Brewery. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. The gallery is wheelchair accessible; parking in the abutting garage and on the street is free on weekends and after 6 p.m. weekdays. For more information, call 865-525-5265, or visit artmarketgallery.net or facebook.com/Art.Market.Gallery.

Published September 7, 2018