PRESS RELEASE
JRB Art at The Elms presents a holiday group exhibition with work by 25 Oklahoma artists alongside a solo show and installation by Denise Duong. The exhibitions open with a reception from 6:00 to 10:00 pm on Friday, December 4th, 2015, during the Paseo’s First Friday Gallery Walk and continue through Sunday, December 27th.
Denise Duong’s exhibition will occupy the entire Ship Gallery and include the artist’s whimsical black and white drawings, several large scale paintings, and, for the very first time, an in situ artwork on the gallery walls. The exhibition’s title, “Flux,” highlights continuous change: artistic growth, her travels this year in Uganda and elsewhere, the move of her practice between mediums of paint and drawing, ceramic and in situ. In this last month of 2015, her exhibit is a fitting metaphor for the changes we, our country, and the world have faced over the past year – and a reminder that nothing but change is yet to come. As Heraclitus of Ephesos said, “change is the only constant.” Denise’s imagery shows the inevitability of change at an adaptable, inviting, and human scale, as we journey with her characters through their poignantly cartoon-like escapades. In some we see her dog, a charming white bull terrier, anthropomorphized as only a dog lover could do – at once comic and gentlemanly. In other works, the depiction of social relationships belies Duong’s deep grasp of the human psyche – the daily interactions of two people in love, out of love, on a bike ride, doing business or caught in a windstorm. Like Shel Silverstein and Edward Gorey, Denise is able to provide human comfort in charming caricature.
This year’s iteration of Christmas at the Elms is called “Collectibles: Art to Love.” It is a tribute to the real meaning of art collecting: a love for the arts! Including work from gallery artists and several newcomers – in total over 25 from Oklahoma, we present an array of mediums, price points, expression and emotion – so that any visitor can find something to fall in love with. Art, unlike technology or fashion, never becomes obsolete, and never goes out of style. It is perhaps the most enduring of all gifts. This season of giving, we hope to remind everyone to consider artwork in terms of emotional attachment, gut reaction, personal instinct: simply, to follow the heart, and give a gift of enduring thoughtful resonance. The presented artists include Jim Keffer, John Wolfe, Krystle Brewer, Michele Mikesell, Moh’d Bilbeisi, Yvonne Kauger, Harolyn Long, Michi Susan, and many more. We are proud to celebrate the holidays and bring in 2016 with work by such a group.