Global Art, Joyous Color, and The Zen of Trees at the Blue Moon Gallery

GRAYSLAKE – Blue Moon Gallery announces new exhibitions of fine art from Waukegan artist David Dallison (watercolor), Laura LaRue (encaustic), David Hinske (acrylic) and David Pilkington (woodturning).

An opening reception for the gallery’s new exhibitions will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 23.

Dallison has been a professional artist since graduating from the Ontario College of Art in Toronto, Canada, in 1987. Since then, he has spent more than 20 years in the Chicago area, two years in Munich, Germany, and two years in Guangzhou, China. He resides in Waukegan with his wife and family.

“Encountering exotic locales and diverse cultures through painting has allowed me to observe what is shared and common to much of humanity,” Dallison said in a news release.

The gallery will offer originals and prints from Dallison in a range of sizes, prices and framing choices.

LaRue is a high school art teacher who works and resides with her family on the northwest side of Chicago. She paints primarily with encaustic wax, incorporating oils, mixed media and ephemera.

“My current work is an exploration of the push and pull of colors, the contrast between hard and soft edges, and mark making in all forms,” LaRue said. “With a dynamic and intuitive application of those elements, along with using a greater use of negative space, I try to visually convey the experiences we have through our other senses such as listening to music, feeling a beat or jumping for joy.”

Using wax as her medium LaRue is able to add many layers to emphasize depth and to embed small tokens, papers and other ephemera in order to facilitate the visual metaphor.

The gallery is excited to share the meditative, Zen-like ambience of Hinske’s new elegant acrylic paintings. Hinske’s paintings are nationally collected, both privately and by public and educational institutions. He has shown his work extensively in Chicago; Memphis; Taos, New Mexico; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Dallas.

Hinske’s collection of eight new paintings features the serene beauty and contemplative austerity of trees and tree branches. The results are striking and dramatic, yet soothing and calm, presenting a quiet, casual elegance that positively enhances any mood or environment.

Pilkington of Wildwood is exhibiting a collection of candlesticks made from high-quality local and exotic woods that are sustainably harvested, offer interesting properties and grain patterns and present excellent finishes.

Guests are invited to attend the opening reception. The gallery is at 18620 Belvidere Road in Grayslake. Masks are required inside the gallery. There will be a fire pit outside and opportunities to meet the artists.

For information, visit the gallery’s website at www.thebluemoongallery.com or call Blue Moon Gallery Director Kendra Kett at 224-388-7948.