Spring arrives at Blue Moon Gallery with new exhibit

GRAYSLAKE – Spring has arrived at the Blue Moon Gallery with new floral exhibitions by guest artists Juli Janovicz of Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Melissa Rasor of Grayslake.

The exhibit features watercolor florals by Janovicz and acrylic paintings by Rasor presenting colorful blossoming forms of flora and fauna.

Inspired by 25 years of cottage gardening, Janovicz first draws in pencil or charcoal the live floral bouquets collected from her garden. As flowers open or close, change position in the vase or fade or become more vibrant over time, Janovicz responds with her characteristic ghost-like capturing of the ever-moving floral forms. Eventually she fills in select portions of the drawing with lush watercolor. By leaving some of the drawing without color, she offers suggestions of the bouquet’s earlier architecture. The result is a combination of sophistication and charm, elegance and traditional beauty.

Blue Moon Gallery is showing 11 recent works by Janovicz in an exhibition titled “The Memory of Flowers.”

Of her new collection, Janovicz said, “I draw and paint the flowers and the colors as they feel. Though the flowers are removed from the garden, the garden remains. It is this tension and movement that I try to portray on a flat piece of watercolor paper. The essence of the individual blooms and the nuances of the vase captures my imagination. As I draw and paint, the colors of the flowers and the memory of the garden vibrate in their container.”

Rasor is showing eight new compositions in acrylic featuring blossoming organic forms of flowers, animals and insects. Rich in color and layers, each of Rasor’s paintings embodies a sensual beauty driven by themes of nature, the cycle of life and growth. The new collection is titled “Beautiful Existence.”

About her work, Rasor said, “I believe we have been disconnected from nature, and my intent is to awaken awareness of its beauty in my viewers. It is essential that we regain our love for our environment so we can protect its beauty. I channel my own connection with nature into my creations by using my natural form as a medium to interpret shapes from nature, which further invokes a natural cycle of life. I hope to invite the viewer to pause, reflect and forge their own connections with oneself and nature.”

The gallery also will be showing the oil and acrylic floral works of Impressionist painter Leisa Corbett of Waukegan, including a bright and bold peony triptych, plus paintings of sunflowers and geraniums.

Paintings of people, faces and places by expressionist painter John Kirkpatrick of Libertyville and a new metal sculpture by Beach Park artist Michael Bellefeuille also will be exhibited.

Artists Bob Nonnemacher and Michael Litewski are presenting new art work, too, each continuing their explorations of abstract expressionism in geometric art and assemblage.

The gallery will be open weekends from 1 to 4 p.m. through April 11. Masks and social distancing are required. Group size may not exceed 10.

Visit the Blue Moon Gallery Facebook page for details and updates or visit www.thebluemoongallery.com/.

Blue Moon Gallery is at 18620 Belvidere Road in Grayslake. For information, call Blue Moon Gallery director Kendra Kett at 224-388-7948.