THE GALLERY WALK AT DUNCAN HALL
Duncan Hall is pleased to welcome noted watercolorist Rena
Brouwer as the featured artist at the hall for the July 16 Gallery Walk. (see
www.renabrouwer.com) She will display some of her most recent works as well as
paint live that evening. She will inspire and be inspired by the dynamic music
of Michael Kelsey and Joe Peters with Deep and Simple. Kyler Laird will be
shooting video of the evening’s interactions to be shown on screen on the
ballroom stage. Adding to the excitement will be a display of the entry
winners of the 2010 Duncan Hall Photography Contest. These include First Prize
winner, Jennifer De Blasio and the winner of the first Girvan Award, Vernon
Hendrickson. Tours of the hall’s architecture and gardens will also be
available.
Rena Brouwer’s watercolors have won her numerous awards including the
Outstanding Watercolor, Hoosier Salon, 2010as well as 3rd Place, New Harmony
Plein Aire Paint Out, 2010 and Honorable Mention, NICHES Celebrating Art in
Nature, 2010.
She believes that “collaboration is the very essence of creating.” Since the
80’s she has worked on group projects for the United Nations, Cary Home for
Children and Indiana Central Land Trust. Currently she is resident artist at
the Opera House Gallery of Contemporary Art working with the Delphi
Preservation Society.
So, its not surprising that when she was displaying her work at The Duncan
Hall Art Fair almost a decade ago ago, that the music being played from the
stage by Lafayette’s own Michael Kelsey inspired her painting. Her painting in
turn inspired his improvisation. She said of that meeting. “That was the first
time I saw what music looked like. He embodied music. I never saw anything
like it.” After that experience she began working with a musical collaborator
of Kelsey’s, Joe Peters as well as other musicians. However, Friday’s Gallery
Walk will be the first time she and Kelsey have created within the same space
since their first meeting at Duncan Hall almost ten years ago.
Joe Peters is a popular singer-songwriter who has released four solo CD’s
since 1998 He performs frequently in the Lafayette area yet often travels to
perform on distant continents. Many of his songs have been influenced by
oriental philosophies and were written while living and working overseas. He
and and Brouwer have collaborated several times within the last few years.
Most recently their efforts have led to his soon to be released CD “Edge of
Disaster”. (http://myspace.com/joedaiwarriors)
Michael Kelsey (www.michaelkelsey.com )has been described as a “fearless
experimenter, an acoustic guitarist who weaves a multitude of unique sounds
and rhythms into his patchwork quilt of work” (Nuvo magazine) Kelsey says he
likes his “progressive, aggressive acoustic” music to be a 3-D experience.
“Inspiration is contagious and I like to get it started.”
Thomas Duncan provided the resources to build Duncan Hall nearly eight decades
ago, so that the people of Lafayette would have a beautiful facility to
communicate, create and celebrate the best of what lies inside them. All are
invited to come experience the continuation of his dream on Friday July 16.