GR artist's work on display at Sweetwater County Library

With paintings that depict everything from realistic landscapes to abstract images, local artist Angie Bennett describes her artwork as symbolic, decorative and traditional.

Bennett’s artwork is on display through the end of October at the Sweetwater County Library.

“I enjoy many subject matters, media and art styles from traditional to abstract,” Bennett said. “Although the majority of my work is in watercolor, some paintings have been painted with iridescent oils or watercolors. The sparkles in the paint appeal to my decorative instinct and add dimension to the paintings.”

Bennett said that she enjoys learning and seeing art from different places.

“I find painting to be a visual communication that transcends language barriers,” she said.

Bennett has visited Mexico, Canada, Tibet, China, Greece, Russia, Spain, Western Europe and the British Isles. She has found inspiration in many of these places.

One of the 19 pieces on display at the library is called “Church Interior.”

“The inspiration for the oil painting ‘Church Interior’ came from a small neglected church in a Russian village,” Bennett said.

“Time and weather had softened the bright colors of long ago. It was different from the very ornate Russian churches I had seen before,” she said. “It lacked the gold, jewels and glitter that overpowered the Christian message.”

“I added the Christian symbols and tapestries to the painting to make the church connection. I would describe this painting as symbolic and decorative,” she said.

“Painting is a continuous learning process that gets better with age,” Bennett said.

“Age and experience promote freedom of expression.”

Bennett has an associate degree in art from Western Wyoming Community College. She has been a signature member of the Wyoming Watercolor Society since 1993.

She had two paintings juried into the Wyoming Watercolor Society National Exhibition in October 2006; exhibited 20 Tibet-inspired paintings at the Open Door Café in Lander in November 2006; and has had work displayed a the Spirit of the Old West Museum in Cheyenne, T.N.S.W Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos, New Mexico, Sage Gallery in Sheridan and Oasis Café in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Two paintings in Bennett’s exhibit, “Desert Heat” and “Winter Range,” recently returned from the 29th annual Watercolor Wyoming National Exhibit in Sheridan.

“The paintings are traditional local area landscapes,” Bennett said.

The Sweetwater County Library System encourages local and Wyoming artists to display their creative work at White Mountain Library in Rock Springs and Sweetwater County Library. A committee of library staff and community volunteers meet to review applications of interested artists and to schedule community shows.

Interested individuals are encouraged to pick up an application packet at any of the libraries or contact Debora Soule at the Community Fine Arts Center.

 

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