North Carolina Artist To Open Major Exhibit at Somerhill Gallery

Aug. 15, 2009 - PRLog -- (DURHAM, NC) -- Somerhill Gallery in Durham, North Carolina, will open a major exhibition of recent works by Raleigh, NC, artist Jason Craighead, with sculptural pieces by Donald Gialanella. The artist’s reception will be held on Sunday, August 30th, from 2-5 p.m. The show runs through October 2.

Jason Craighead is best known for his predominantly large-scale painting that combine acrylic, oil pastel, and graphite in multiple layers of color, lines, and drips.

Before the artist’s exhibit last winter at the Fayetteville Museum of Art in Fayetteville, NC., he described the direction in which his work was going at that time as “the ultimate transitional moment for me. I’m detaching from ‘things,’ finding space and creating rhythm, and letting my work become the pure thing that it is. With less fear comes more freedom.”

Craighead’s work has continued to evolve since then, and now he notes, “Those earlier pieces were a little friendlier. The ‘less fear” concept is allowing me to leave things behind – fear, ego, pride – and really begin to make work. I feel like there is a flight mechanism in these pieces [for the Somerhill show], like the sense of jumping off a cliff: there’s that moment of horror and serenity all at the same time. This work is about progress and purpose, not perfection. I’m even allowing myself the freedom to stop early – to show something that raw.”

According to Somerhill director Joseph Rowand, “Jason has discovered a source within himself that he knows how to acknowledge. And he is willing to do the work to get to the passage."

Rowand describes the nearly 20 pieces in the show – on canvas, paper and doors – as “making us look up into our imagination. We are affected by mind-tripping on the tangible results of a man hard at his work as well as his pleasure. The culmination of his vision allows us, and coaches us, to loose ourselves in that vision, therefore enhancing it, in our mind's eye, implanting the reflection for future referral. It is the pure pleasure of viewing a good painting. How much fun it is to create and indulge in one's visual life."

Somerhill Gallery is located in the Venable Center in Durham at 303 South Roxboro Street. For directions visit the website at  www.somerhill.com.

For more information on Jason Craighead and to see more of his work, visit www.jasoncraighead.com.

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About Jason Craighead: Jason Craighead is represented by Somerhill Gallery in Durham , Broadhurst Gallery in Pinehurst , Anne Irwin Fine Art in Atlanta, GA, and Bucks Gallery of Fine Art in Newtown, PA. He has been named Best Artist in Metro Magazine’s annual reader’s poll for five consecutive years. His work has been featured in numerous gallery exhibits and belongs in many public and private art collections. An active member of the North Carolina arts community, he is now working with the Raleigh Arts Commission on its plans for future public art. He also frequently donates his work to charitable causes, including Works of Heart, the Triangle area’s annual premiere art auction to benefit The Alliance of AIDS Services – Carolina. Recent donations to Works of Heart and the Raleigh Visual Arts Exchange’s fundraising auction broke both organizations’ records for largest winning bids. His studio is located in downtown Raleigh. For more information visit www.jasoncraighead.com.