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Botanicals & Blooms IV
May 1 – June 29, 2024
Opening Reception:
Friday May 17, 2024 5:00 – 8:00 pm
Green Door Art Gallery presents our newest art exhibit, Botanicals & Blooms IV, a celebration of all things floral and botanical. The exhibit features watercolor paintings by Nancy Avdoian, Gena Loseto, and Karen Romani, mixed media paintings by Mary Martin, and fiber art and earrings by Bee & Bee Studios. The artwork will be on display and available for sale May 1 – June 29, 2024
Join us for the opening reception on Friday May 17, 2024 5:00 – 8:00 pm
Nancy Avdoian - Watercolor
As a writing teacher for thirty years, words had always been my life, but now, like in a haiku poem, I want to capture that one moment in time in the natural world with watercolor paint—the essence of of that single second in which the natural world is linked to my human life.
In my studio, I paint to get back to that day standing over a pool of white waterlilies, or glancing between the woody vines of lavender and wisteria, or just taking shade under a pinkmagnolia tree, facing a field of purple irises.
When I mingle water with paint in my beginning process, I am still faced with things to work out—the elements of design, color, shape, lines, and textures—not words, any longer to describe bees buzzing through a cluster of black-eyed Susans in a three line Japanese poem with seventeen syllables—just paper, paint, and a brush.
Bee & Bee Studio - Jewelry and Textile Art
Bee&Bee Studio was created by Sheri Jakubs Brimer and Melinda Mitter Borman. As graphic designers, artists and friends for over 30 years, they use their strong graphic background to inform their earring designs, mixing colorful patterns and unique motifs in fun and exciting combinations.
Besides earrings, Bee&Bee Studio also designs “Words&Wool”, a textile art collection featuring one-of-a-kind pieces using recycled wool and original narratives. (You might recognize Melinda Mitter Borman as also being the artist behind Mitter’s Mittens.)
Gena Loseto - Watercolor
I am connected to my deepest self when experiencing the awe and mystery of our natural world. As a former Biologist, I have studied life and the natural world in all its many wondrous forms. These observations inspire my work, which aims to interpret the beauty, mood and mystery existing on our planet. My art provides an opportunity to reflect on nature in all of its glory by calling attention to texture, contrast, color, form, and movement.
Gena Loseto (b. 1975) is a fine artist currently creating, teaching and exhibiting work in St. Louis, Missouri. She studied Biology and Chemistry, receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in 1997. Embracing her creative side for most of her life, she enrolled in numerous classes to learn watercolor painting, ceramics, fiber arts, drawing, photography, and design before deciding to pursue a Master of Fine Arts. She completed her MFA in Studio Arts at Fontbonne University in 2019.
Mary Martin - Mixed Media Collage
In her art practice since 2012, Mary Martin works with themes of peace and joy expressed in landscape and floral collages. Her work incorporates hand-painted tissue papers, rice papers, sheet music, sacred texts, and handwritten scriptures. Her work is influenced by her love of nature, Japanese art, the Impressionists, and nearly 40 years of being a church choir singer and cantor, which has imprinted the words of the Psalms on her heart and mind. The words of scripture and sacred music are so deeply rooted in her being that they naturally express themselves in her art. Her intent is to create a space within the art where viewers can experience a moment of peace and joy within themselves.
Martin’s work has been included in exhibits throughout St. Louis and across the US since she began exhibiting in 2012.
Since 2019 she has been curator of the Who is God? Midwest exhibits held at Gretchen Brigham Gallery in St. Louis.
Her work has been included in several books including Who Is God? Creations, Editor B. J. Woodland Clausen and Who Is God? The Collection, Editor Robert Ellison
Mary Martin was born in 1963 in St. Louis, MO where she still lives and works as both an artist and the owner of Green Door Art Gallery in Webster Groves, MO.
Karen Romani - Watercolor
Watercolors have become my obsession in recent years, giving me great joy. I am particularly drawn to botanical art, rendering what nature has perfected. I continue to learn the intricacies of this medium, learning from some of the best watercolorists in the world. . Expressing light and dark, details of the plant and exploring the colors nature has done so well, is my never ending journey. I try to challenge myself with every painting, adding more details, trying new color combinations. Becoming more informed about the Botany of plants and flowers has created a new direction for my work. I love exploring new methods, as well as learning a variety of techniques used by well known botanical artists of the past and present.
My goals continue to evolve as my skills improve, many have already been met, but I still have a long way to go to reach my greatest potential, whatever that might be. I hope someone who looks at my paintings is captivated by them.
