Opening Saturday, July 16 and on view through October 2 in the Regional Artists Gallery of Bennington Museum is a vibrant exhibition of recent paintings by Baltimore and North Bennington painter Mark Barry, who describes his work as “Painting the seemingly ordinary moments in life that aren’t ordinary at all.” Meet the artist, July 16 at 3 pm in the gallery.[private]
The show features a number of Barry’s paintings varying in size all based on images of the everyday life he creates with family and friends in Maryland, Vermont and Massachusetts, all locations he calls home. Whether it’s biking, exploring nature, or swinging on a swing, the artist uses rich color to portray movement and that particular instant in life. Drawing inspiration from everyday observations and depicting his family in everyday situations – preparing meals, playing board games, celebrating, and relaxing, it is the genuine appreciation of life that comes through in Barry’s work.
Educated at the Swain School of Design in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Barry’s most recent solo exhibitions have included Fleckenstein Gallery, Steven Scott Gallery, both in Baltimore, The Vermont Arts Exchange, North Bennington and the International Print Center, New York, among others. His paintings are held in the collections of National City Bank, Louisville, Kentucky; Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, Maryland; The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, Maryland; Brown and Forman, Louisville, Kentucky; Merck & Company, Washington, DC.; and Health Insurance Association of America, Washington, DC, among others.[/private]