Delaware News

The Mezzanine Gallery to Exhibit “Painting with Wood” by Robert Bruce Weston

Delaware Division of the Arts | Department of State | Kent County | New Castle County | News | Sussex County | Date Posted: Monday, April 1, 2019



On view from April 5-26, 2019
Free opening reception on Friday, April 5 at 5 p.m.

Wilmington, Del. (April 1, 2019) – Painting with Wood, an exhibition of “wood veneer paintings” by Robert Bruce Weston, will be on view in the Mezzanine Gallery from April 5-26, 2019. The artist will host a free opening reception on Friday, April 5 from 5-7 p.m.

Weston draws from his vast experience with wood when creating his art. He is a retired cabinetmaker with over 30 years of experience. During that time, he became a collector of exotic and domestic wood veneers. A veneer is a very thin slice of wood (usually less than 1/8 inch) prized for its decorative surface. Weston’s creative process is inspired by the patterns in the wood veneers.

In some cases, the patterns in a wood veneer dictate the subject matter of Weston’s “painting.” He also recreates landscapes using wood veneers to translate the forms and shapes of the scene. The pieces are then cut by hand, taped together, glued to a substrate, and sanded. Weston prefers the natural color of the wood and doesn’t use stain. To add color for grass and sky, he uses oil pastels to tint the wood. Weston then applies 6 coats of lacquer and 2 coats of wax to highlight the beauty of the wood and enhance the surface. Each work is framed with a custom-designed frame made by Weston.

Visitors to the Gallery should enter via the courtyard doors on French Street and take the elevators to the Mezzanine level due to renovations in the building. The Gallery will be closed for Good Friday on Friday, April 19.

Learn more about Weston with our YouTube Meet the Artist video series. Image: “The Point,” 2017, wood veneer, 19″ x 30″ (courtesy of The Wright Collection)

The Mezzanine Gallery is open to the public weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is located in the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington.

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Contact: Leeann Wallett, Program Officer, Communications and Marketing
302-577-8280, leeann.wallett@delaware.gov

The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

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The Mezzanine Gallery to Exhibit “Painting with Wood” by Robert Bruce Weston

Delaware Division of the Arts | Department of State | Kent County | New Castle County | News | Sussex County | Date Posted: Monday, April 1, 2019



On view from April 5-26, 2019
Free opening reception on Friday, April 5 at 5 p.m.

Wilmington, Del. (April 1, 2019) – Painting with Wood, an exhibition of “wood veneer paintings” by Robert Bruce Weston, will be on view in the Mezzanine Gallery from April 5-26, 2019. The artist will host a free opening reception on Friday, April 5 from 5-7 p.m.

Weston draws from his vast experience with wood when creating his art. He is a retired cabinetmaker with over 30 years of experience. During that time, he became a collector of exotic and domestic wood veneers. A veneer is a very thin slice of wood (usually less than 1/8 inch) prized for its decorative surface. Weston’s creative process is inspired by the patterns in the wood veneers.

In some cases, the patterns in a wood veneer dictate the subject matter of Weston’s “painting.” He also recreates landscapes using wood veneers to translate the forms and shapes of the scene. The pieces are then cut by hand, taped together, glued to a substrate, and sanded. Weston prefers the natural color of the wood and doesn’t use stain. To add color for grass and sky, he uses oil pastels to tint the wood. Weston then applies 6 coats of lacquer and 2 coats of wax to highlight the beauty of the wood and enhance the surface. Each work is framed with a custom-designed frame made by Weston.

Visitors to the Gallery should enter via the courtyard doors on French Street and take the elevators to the Mezzanine level due to renovations in the building. The Gallery will be closed for Good Friday on Friday, April 19.

Learn more about Weston with our YouTube Meet the Artist video series. Image: “The Point,” 2017, wood veneer, 19″ x 30″ (courtesy of The Wright Collection)

The Mezzanine Gallery is open to the public weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is located in the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington.

###

Contact: Leeann Wallett, Program Officer, Communications and Marketing
302-577-8280, leeann.wallett@delaware.gov

The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  , , , , ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.