Craig Mooney’s one-man show is on display for three weeks at The Gallery at Maine Art Hill in Kennebunk, beginning Saturday, September 26, and running through most of October. The gallery at 14 Western Ave is showing this work through October. They are open every day at 10 AM.
Mooney, primarily an oil painter, has been with Maine Art Hill for over thirteen years. His work is well known, and a “Mooney Sky” is unmistakable. This show holds several of these famous seascapes and landscapes, but there are more than a few unexpected beauties.
John Spain, the owner of Maine Art Hill, notes, “A Craig Mooney Solo Show is always stunningly beautiful. However, there are continued surprises each and every time he shows his work in a large collection such as this.”
Mooney built this new body of work around romantic feelings of solace and quietude.
“For me, this is pure escapism from the current climate,” says Mooney. “Times like these, I draw deeper into myself. I’ve sought out more classic motifs such as the lone boat on a quiet shore or the light on morning waves on the horizon. These universal themes may be slightly different but still convey comfort and safety.”
This spring Mooney used his time to experiment with new ways of viewing subjects and different techniques.
“In some cases, I’m striving for an economy of information on my canvas, looking to distill what is essential to convey my intent,” Mooney explains. “Sometimes, that’s as simple as leaving areas of the canvas unpainted or removing hues I normally include.
Mooney finds inspiration in all the places he has called home. Be it his native Manhattan, the mountains, and farms near his studio in Stowe, Vermont, or the beaches of Maine and Cape Cod, where he spends as much time as he can.
“I imbue these semi-abstract renderings of place with universal emotions. These works are meant to bring peace to those who view them,” Mooney shares. “They are a gentle reminder that life goes on and assure that there is cosmos amid this chaos.”
The Gallery on Maine Art Hill is at 14 Western Avenue in Lower Village, Kennebunk, and is open at 10 AM daily. This show will run from September 26 to October 26. FMI visit maine-art.com or call 967-2803.
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