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Betsy Glassie's art blossoms

May 4, 2006 12:50 am

By DAVE SMALLEY

The great ones take you to another state of mind. Doesn't matter, really, whether it's aggressive, sad, joyful, or amused--the art that matters most is art that affects the viewers, for at least a moment, in such a way that they are transported.

And that's really one of the strengths of Betsy Glassie's work. Stand before one of her pieces and the overwhelming feeling of being in a more beautiful place hits you. You're in the garden, you're at one with nature, and you remember that things aren't all about the material world and reality TV.

Despite the cares and woes of life, there is still beauty in this world--still a sea of flowers that transforms a routine day into the refreshing realization: We humans need nature more than we need another product that's packaged and marketed from a distant, cold office tower in a land far away.

For a moment, you get to go on a vacation from the mundane, and breathe deeply.

"Serenity," "peace," and any other words that convey the outflow of tension and the inflow of inner harmony, all apply here. "Pastoral" is the most obvious word for Glassie's work. Those unfamiliar with her favorite themes need to think "nature," in general, and for the show at Walker Home this month, "floral" in particular.

Saying Betsy Glassie captures flowers through acrylics on canvas is like saying Martin Scorsese captures life through celluloid on a screen--it's accurate, but it doesn't begin to capture the emotion. Nor the range. And that range, that ability to try different approaches even within similar themes, is one impressive aspect of this show.

For while she has her own signature style, Glassie pours a shot or two of ever-changing mood into each drink of tranquillity. This is not boring "look at the flowers" stuff. Even tattooed hard-noses can be affected by the sheer aura of these works.

Some are muted and moody, an Impressionist strolling the field at twilight. Others are bold and bright, shades of Van Gogh.

One of the most stays-with-you works along those lines is "Purple Pears in Situ." It features much harder lines than some of the softer moments Glassie creates, and it jumps off the canvas in a sea of bright color--purple pears, bien sur , in a tray, with a vibrant bright yellow chair that pulls the viewer in.

At the other extreme, a work that hits home just as successfully is "Nocturne." You walk through a quiet garden at night, with the flowers blurred in the dusk, and a delicious solitude gives your id a gentle massage.

Glassie works, both large and small, are here to take us to a better place. Four outstanding smaller pieces, each 12 inches square--one tulips, one an iris, the next a sunflower and the last poppies--hang together under the title of "Glimpse."

By contrast, "Poppyfield, Suffolk, Eng." measures 72 inches by 48 inches and it, along with "The Marsh," is a dominant burst among the 25 works. ("The Marsh" reflects a momentary Glassie foray into subtle abstraction as well.)

As a venue to view art, Walker Home is a gem. Passers-by might not be aware of this relatively new venue for the arts on William Street in Fredericksburg.

It's a furniture gallery with cutting-edge design, but with pieces that haven't forgotten functionality.

And throughout the large space--which fortunately stays open at nights past 5 p.m., a small miracle in this town--can be found works by some of the more exceptional local artists. Owners Yasmeen and Benjamin Walker, who also have a space in New York City, have featured four shows since last year.

Glassie's opened last month and will run through June. Walker Home exhibits typically run longer than the one-month duration of many, which gives them a chance to more deeply profile and promote the featured artists.

That pays off this Friday, for Walker Home's First Friday reception will feature Betsy Glassie's works, and the artist herself will be in attendance. If you see her, thank her for producing art that gets us away from obsession with the manufactured, through works that remind us of the heavenly gift of nature.

To reach DAVE SMALLEY:540/374-5430
Email: dsmalley@freelancestar.com