Barbara and Anders ShaferTwo Artists from Eau ClaireVirtual Exhibit available starting April 8, 2022
In-person in the James W Hansen Gallery April 8, 2022 - June 19, 2022Galleries are free and open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as well as 2 hours
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Numerous years ago I took some photographs of my friend, Laurie Bieze. Laurie was an artist, who worked in stained glass and had a studio in Banbury Place, Building 13. Her work can be seen in Eau Claire, in the window at the Unitarian Fellowship, the HERS Center, Mayo Clinic, and the doors of the Arc at Temple Shalom, as well as in many other venues.
I held onto the photographs for a number of years after Laurie died, always planning to paint a portrait of her. As time passed I also photographed my friend and wood-worker, Carl Brown, who also has a studio in building 13. A plan was forming.
I have historically painted from photographs of dancers; my students, friends, visiting troupes, etc. I was ready for a new project. When Rose Dolan-Neill offered my husband Andy and I an exhibit at Pablo Center, I decided it would be an interesting challenge to paint portraits of various people working in the building. Because of the studio space available to renters, one finds a variety of different art forms, business, and people.
Most of the paintings that were born of this project include glimpses into the lives/work of each inhabitant. Because of this, it seemed redundant for me to write a description of each.
Andy and I have a studio (carefully divided by a wall with a door) in Building 13. Selections from my “dancer” series can be seen at the 200 Main Gallery in downtown Eau Claire and Mona Lisa’s Restaurant is exhibiting work from my “plant” series in the main dinning room.
Visit Barbara's Website
Much of my work is “sequential” art; one of the most ancient forms of human communication. I became involved with this form while doing “story boards” (a map of a story) for childrens’ books. I thought one could tackle ideas about other artists, about history, do kinds of stories and poems, study nature, almost anything, using this visual format. To strengthen my skills, I work from the figure (over sixty years) and enjoy “plein-air” painting.
Visit Ander's Website
Barbara and Anders Shafer come together in one space but with two separate exhibits. Anders Shafer’s work in this exhibit is a mixture of recent works and works from the near past that are still interesting and relevant. Barbara Shafer has chosen to focus her exhibit on the people of Banbury Place; a repurposed factory that houses many artist studios where these two artists from Eau Claire share their lives and studio space. There they paint together, but separate.
Nostalgic and vivid, lively storytelling, and capturing nature is as important to Anders Shafer’s work as color and line. In Barbara Shafer’s work, one witnesses stark realities of light and texture and the beauty of humanity laid bare.
Artist Reception
Thursday, April 14 from 5 - 8 p.m.
Art Talk
Featuring Barbara and Anders Shafer
Thursday, April 14 at 6 p.m.
Grab a drink at our lobby bar while you stroll through the James W Hansen Gallery and join us for an evening of artfull conversations. This event is free, however you must reserve a ticket to attend.
Reserve Tickets
All artwork pricing is set by the artist and is non-negotiable and non-refundable. All artwork sales are by commission with Pablo Center at the Confluence. Your purchase supports our endeavors to present quality visual arts programming that is free and open to the public.
Contact Rose