In
the past when I have seen a landscape of an open field or a rural farm I tend
not to pay much attention, I stop briefly but quickly continue on my way. To me,
some depictions of landscapes seem contrived and overdone. There are fields,
mountains, flowers, may be the occasional bird or two, but they feel
constructed from a “landscape recipe” rather than the creative being that designs
them. When I first saw Trish Crowe’s breathtaking watercolor landscapes my view
of traditional landscapes was turned inside out and upside-down.
Crowe,
founder of the Firnew Farm Artists Circle, which opened nearly 10 years ago, is
a studio she shares with group of 30 artists. The group of local artists
initially met in the milking parlor to paint together while Crowe facilitated an
afternoon critique of new works on a weekly basis. As the Circle grew, gathering more painters and
photographers, Crowe converted the barn and silo into an exhibition space where
this group of artists continue to work with students and local art teachers.
The Firnew Farm Artists
have two exhibitions each year. One in the Firnew Barn Gallery, and others in
local venues that include vineyards, Montpelier and this fall Woodberry Forest
School in the Walker Fine Arts Gallery. The Circle’s focus is the natural
Virginia Piedmont landscape that surrounds them. As Crowe states, “It is the
perfect muse. It is line and color. It is ever changing and precious; and each
artist has a unique and individual response to it. My watercolors of
local fields and farms are a testimony to those artists who continue to
challenge and push each other and me.”
Trish
Crowe will be exhibiting her wonderful watercolor paintings in NIH’s North
Gallery from September 7th until November 2nd. Working
with the strength of line, translucency of color, and depictions of local fields
and farms, Crowe has built a body of work that is both, vibrant and timeless. Her
work focuses on how creating art has been a journey to understand herself and
world around her.
The
visual texture and excitement Crowe creates in her paintings brightens the rooms
at NIH. Standing in front of one of Crowe’s watercolors you can get lost in the
scene, transported to a rural sunny field where butterflies move feely and the breeze
is ever so slight. The transformative powers of these works are why they are
such a perfect fit as one of NIH’s rotating exhibits. Patients and visitors
alike can enjoy the playful uplifting watercolor paintings by Crowe.
I
encourage you to visit Trish Crowe’s exhibit at NIH and view for yourself the magnificent
exploration of self and nature that her work holds.
Written by: Erica Kempler
