Exhibition Schedule:

Craig Barnes / Ruth Sauer: The Abstract Narrative
North Main Gallery, 196 North Main St., Salem (Washington County) NY 12865

Jan 24 to Feb 28 2015
“The Abstract Narrative” is a new show opening at the North Main Gallery in Salem, N.Y. on Saturday, January 24, 2015. The show features works created by Craig Barnes and Ruth Sauer.
Barnes will show several new pieces from his latest series, a collection of painted photographs. He takes photos of tree branches against the sky, then alters them in his computer and then prints them on rag paper. These are then painted with acrylic, in an abstract manner, the paint following the “narrative” found in the photograph. Barnes stated that “sometimes the story comes first”, and he pursues that. Other times the art comes first and the story "evolves". Often, he doesn’t see the story until the work is done.
The same is true for the paintings exhibited by Ruth Sauer. Her work, boldly-colored acrylic monotypes, each have their own story—a narrative deriving from a scene out of a window, an event, or one of her dreams, but sometimes for Sauer it is the process of creating monotypes that then emboldens each piece with a story of its own.
No matter if it is an event that prompts Sauer or Barnes to paint, or whether they find the story of the piece after the work is done, “The Abstract Narrative” at the North Main Gallery is an illustrative and dynamic show.
“The Abstract Narrative” runs from Jan. 24 – Feb. 28, 2015, with an opening reception on Jan. 24 from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.