Sedona AZ (October 10, 2013) – Christine DeSpain has long been known for her sensitive depictions of fantasy and spiritual themes and of Native American children. But in recent works she has turned her attention to the more immediate world around her, focusing on paintings that support our country and worthy community organizations.
Sedona Giclée Gallery, located in west Sedona’s Harkins Theater Plaza, is featuring DeSpain’s latest works during October, along with recent works by her husband, photographer Michael Schroeder. The two will be on hand for an artists’ reception at 4-8PM on Friday, Oct 11, and the public is cordially invited to attend, meet the artists, and enjoy local wine and refreshments.
Christine DeSpain, born and raised in the Southwest, has always created paintings reflecting her visions of the region’s natural features and native cultures. “I work from the inside out,” she notes. “I try to paint that which comes from deep inside of me.”
And even though she is currently favoring new subjects, her process hasn’t changed. The new works exhibit her customary sensitivity to the essence of her subjects, distilled through her own experiences and insights.
A good example is her painting “My Best Friend”, portraying a tender moment of affection between a young boy and his canine companion. DeSpain created this painting to help support the Humane Society, and is in the process of finishing a series of paintings with similar themes.
Another example is “Lady Liberty Laments”, which conveys the artist’s feelings about threats to individual freedoms in today’s complex society. It is part of a series of works she is creating to support our nation and our community.
Michael Schroeder, who is originally from Indianapolis, has traveled extensively during his career in satellite television. As a result, he has become familiar with locales and cultures throughout the world. These have been the subjects of many of his images to date.
However, he is currently expanding his body of work by photographing a range of new subjects, including classic airplanes and Sedona landscapes. “Sedona Winter Scene” is an example of the latter, and “Miss Lizzy”, a striking image of a restored B-26 bomber taking off from the Sedona airport, embodies his interests in both aviation and landscapes.
Sedona Giclée Gallery is located at 2055 W. State Route 89A, Suite B, near the Harkins Theaters, and is open Monday through Saturday from 11AM to 6PM. For more information, contact Justin or Jodi Whittaker at 928-282-4708 or visit http://www.sedonagicleestudios.com .
