Michael Gibbons, artist living and working in Toledo has been invited to show his work in the Founders of Vistas & Vineyards 30th Anniversary Show at the LaSells Stewart Center, 875 SW 26th St., Corvallis, OR, OSU Campus, November 1 to December 9 .
Paintings from the founding members will be hung in the Murdock Gallery along the South concourse and the juried show of current members will be shown in the nearby Guistina Gallery.
The public is cordially invited to a Reception and Anniversary Celebration Friday November 1, 2019 from 6:30pm-8:30pm.
Sometime before 1989, a group headed by Dorothy Mathews, then owner of Pegasus Gallery, Corvallis, was approached by Airlie Vineyards to be part of their first winery festival. A group went out to paint at the festival and enjoyed the event so much that it was decided to continue painting on location together at similar sites around Corvallis. Eventually a show was held at Pegasus Gallery with 6 framed winery paintings. The group continued to meet; more artists joined, and now a group of 80-100 artists continue to paint and show their work together. Michael Gibbons was a Founder of this movement and he continued to serve as a Mentor artist going out in the field many times over the years.
“APRIL MIST OVER SPRINGHILL” was painted on one of these trips with a group of Vista & Vineyards artist and Gibbons recalls taking a look at the vines in early spring and noting the beautiful patterns the leaves and root stock were taking leading up the top of the hill. A blueprint of Oregon in the early years of growing grapes for wine that is such a big industry now is created in this picture of history by the artist.
Twenty-six years ago the Vista & Vineyards group decided to have an Open Studio Tour of their members locations and though Gibbons lived 50 miles west on Highway 20 in Toledo, he thought to open his studio as well, though it was questionable that anyone would attend. Wine was provided by Springhill Vineyard and entertainment was live by toe-tapping local musician and composer Mike O’Donnell. To everyone’s surprise, especially at the time local police chief Jerry Prior, 400 people showed up to enjoy the art, entertainment, and wine. That was the actual beginning of the Labor Day Annual Toledo Art Walk now going into the 27th year which will grow in 2020 to include an Outdoor Concert, Car Show and Swap Meet to add to the Art Show of 30-50 artists. For more information about the art of Michael Gibbons please go to www.michaelgibbons.net , call (541) 336 2797 for his Signature Gallery in Toledo or email michaelgibbonsart@charter.net
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