Gail Werner: Paintings at Stone Rose Gallery from September 15 to October 13

Long Beach artist Gail Werner will have a solo show of her paintings at the newly-opened Stone Rose Gallery in downtown Long Beach, with an opening reception on Saturday, September 15th from 7 to 9PM.  The gallery is located at 342 East 4th Street in Long Beach.

Here's Werner's Artist's Statement:
  
I am currentlyworking in oil paint on wood panel, sometimes incorporating pencil andPrismacolor.  At times I work from asmall quick sketch or painting, but at other times I lay down thin washes ofcolor, and the painting evolves from there. Seeking to find a balance betweenthe abstract and representational, I apply paint expressively while, at thesame time, rendering some of the images more realistically.
                                                 "Desert Wash II," oil and pencil on wood panel, 36"x 24"   2011
 My work reflects thelandscape and cultural imagery related to my Native American background.  My tribal affiliation is with the Cupeño, Luiseño, and Diegeño tribeslocated in southern California.  Many ofthe elements found in my work such as color, light, and plant and animal lifeare influenced by the southern California desert and mountain landscape. NativeAmerican rock art, pottery and basket designs specific to this area also maketheir way into my work.  

My work is alsoinfluenced by southern California Native American stories and songs, especiallythe creation stories and traditional “bird songs.” These stories and songsoften incorporate plant and animal life as the characters.  They reflect a dreamlike, evolving worldtelling how the world came to be and how the people came to be where theyare.  My paintings reflect thatworld:  images appear to float, or theirscale is exaggerated.
                                                  "Bird Dreams VI," encaustic on wood panel, 12"x 9" 2012
Landscape, color,light and imagery, abstract designs, stories and songs—all of these elementsmerge together for me to evoke a sense of place. 
 To see more of Werner's art, visit her website: http://www.gailwernerart.com/