Appalachian Spirit Gallery, 144 W. Main Street in Marion, Virginia will kick off the July 10th Second Friday Art Walk at 5pm with an opening and artist reception for Kyle Buckland, plein air landscape painter from Abingdon. Pickin’ on the Porch starts at 6 pm with regional favorite bluegrass band “Fescue” strumming their favorite songs.
Prior to the July 10th opening, Kyle Buckland plans to explore Marion’s downtown by setting up his easel, stirring his paints, and talking to folks as he captures the town’s historic landmarks in his own unique style of contemporary impressionism. The small color studies of these excursions will be on view at the July gallery show with the larger finished versions exhibited during the month of August.
Buckland , a self taught painter, stretches and primes his own canvases, gathers his oils, and hauls his gear into town streets, meadows, and woods to grab hold of the moment with his brushes, unconcerned if the day is bitter cold or boiling hot. Now age 25, he continues to explore the outdoors in search of opportunity or what ever catches his eye to capture it on canvas as he has done for the past nine years.
Appalachian Spirit Gallery’s exhibit of local member talent includes: Ned Johnson, CiCi Brown Vesce, Duane Cregger, William Fields, Avery Cornett, Sylvia Richardson, Tracy Thompson, David Fields, Marilynn Peacock, and Suzan Sukle. Paintings range from traditional to impressionist, landscapes to landmarks, oils, acrylics, digital giclée and mixed media. Other works include fabric art, jewelry design, crocheted “plarn” handbags, and other “green” creations.
Appalachian Spirit Artists Association is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization composed of artisans who share jobs to fulfill the group’s mission to celebrate the arts, traditions, lore, and spirit of the Appalachian Mountains and to showcase the work of local and regional talent.
The Gallery is open Monday through Thursday from noon to 5pm and other times by appointment or whim. For more information go to www.appalachianspiritgallery.com or call 276.759.3890.
August Show Features
Marion Landmarks
by Kyle Buckland