Daniel Kany Gallery presents the work of Michael Kessler and Randy Walker. Through Spring of 2007, the gallery will continue to introduce more of its artists each month.

For the first exhibition of January 2007, Daniel Kany gallery shows two of the most masterful artists in the country at handling textures: Santa Fe painter Michael Kessler and Washington glassblower Randy Walker.

Randy Walker’s blown and sculpted forms are inspired by the colors, textures and patterns found in the northern forests. His naturalistic forms, seemingly worn by weather and time, articulate a spirit and solitude one might find within the stillness of the woods. With a degree in wildlife ecology and professional experience as a woodworker and farmer, Walker brings a naturalist's eye together with an scientist's sense of detail. His fascination of and love for natural forms and materials is evident in the way he combines surface detail with a compelling feel for the organic whole.

For the past fifteen years, Walker has also been a lead blower on William Morris's team, which works at Pilchuck during the winter months. Walker has also been a frequent faculty member at Pilchuck and has taught workshops in Canada, Japan, New Zealand and across the United States. In 2006 he was a featured demonstrating artist at the International Glass Art Society conference.

While the compositions of Michael Kessler’s heavily-layered acrylic works are based in hard-edged geometric painting, they are not hiding measured mathematical formulas: their rhythms are loose and opulently musical. The Santa Fe artist's paintings reveal themselves in time: while they might seem tightly controlled at first, they ultimately revel in lush tonality and the complexities of layering, color, transparency and texture. Kessler often speaks about his work in musical terms: rhythms, tones, the role of improvisation, time, layering, color, and ranges of emotions and feelings that we rarely articulate.

Michael Kessler has won major awards such as the Rome Prize of the American Academy and the prestigious Pollock/Krasner Award. His works are included in major museums throughout the United States, including: The New Museum of Contemporary Art (NYC), The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Columbus Museum of Art, among many others.

Also: The Daniel Kany Gallery and the Kennebec Valley Art Association are proud to present Paintings by Michael Kessler: A Recent Survey which will run from February 2nd to 25th at the Harlow Gallery in Hallowell, Maine. The exhibition reception will be held on Saturday, February 10, from 5 - 8 PM. The public is invited.

Contact:
Harlow Gallery
160 Water Street, Hallowell, ME 04347
207+622.3813 www.harlowgallery.org
February Hours:
Fri & Sat: noon – 6PM, Sun: noon – 4PM