As the summer light fades and the leaves begin to turn, Co | So presents our Fall Members Show: Abundance. The season of Autumn brings the harvest: the bountiful fruits of one’s labor from the past year. It is a time to honor the lushness of nature, the love of family and friends, and all that we are grateful for. Through their work in this exhibition, our member artists celebrate the transition of Summer to Fall with vibrant colors, varying mediums, and individual interpretations of the theme. We would like to preview four of those pieces for you below.

Robin Wessman, Blues Falling, oil, 20” x 16”

Robin Wessman is known for creating playful and surrealist still-life paintings that defy gravity and embody a similar atmosphere to some of René Magritte’s work. Wessman’s piece, Blues Falling, is a perfect example of this. With bouncing blueberries that seem to fall out of the sky, set on a classic picnic-style tablecloth overlooking the ocean, the painting emits the feeling of a late-summer afternoon on the Cape. The blueberries are ripe enough to pluck right out of the painting, and the light immerses the viewer in the scene. The backdrop is minimal, but the smell of the sea breeze still hints at the nose.

Robert Steinem, Autumn Medley, oil, 26” x 34”

Robert Steinem’s Autumn Medley exudes a vintage, graphic-like ambience that makes it feel like looking at a polaroid picture. Despite being painted in oil, Steinem’s colors have a flat-but-bold quality similar to those seen in travel posters and pieces done in gouache. The bright blue of the central leaf stands outs among the autumnal color palette, but the exquisite colors and delicate details pull the eyes around the composition. Steinem, with his intricacy and vibrance, manages to depict the look of a faded photograph, capturing the essence of crisp fallen leaves that crunch under your foot.

Pamela duLong Williams, (CA), Garden Abundance, oil on linen, 42” x 32”

Pamela duLong Williams, (CA), despite being known for her portraits, creates a fun and lively floral still-life in her piece, Garden Abundance. The vibrant bouquet fans across the top half of the composition, and the blue table draws the eyes to the bottom where three black birds stand. duLong Williams’ impressionist technique strays away from realism in exchange for exuberant subjects that dance around the canvas, creating a piece that radiates the warmth of early Autumn.

David Kaphammer, (CA), Amber Waves of Grain, pastel, 22” x 28”

David Kaphammer, (CA) is a master pastel artist, and his work, Amber Waves of Grain, clearly exhibits his skill. A delightfully rendered blue tractor sits just right of center, providing space for the viewer to see beyond, into a field of grain that has just been mowed. The trail of the tractor cuts diagonally through the composition, joining in the center with the horizontal line created from the shadows. Kaphammer excellently defines the mid-afternoon light, omitting the horizon but leaving it to peak through the top, just out of sight. With little detail needed aside from the tractor, Kaphammer perfectly captures this mundane Autumn harvest.

We hope you enjoyed the glimpse into our Fall Members Show! These pieces, along with the rest of the exhibition, will be shown October 3rd– November 2nd in the upper gallery. We will be hosting a reception on October 10th, 5-7pm. We hope to see you there!