The Gallery at Flat Rock is excited to present a two-person exhibition by artists who each have a passion for animals that informs and inspires their artwork.
Both Katherine Maloney and Alec Hall cite a deep interest in animals of all kinds, and while Katherine works in clay and Alec works in pastels, the two artists align in their lifelong appreciation of the natural world. “Sacred Animalia” runs October 8- November 1 and is free and open to the public.
What: “Sacred Animalia”: an exhibit of work by Katherine Maloney and Alec Hall
When: October 8 – November 1, 2020; virtual and in-person exhibit
Alec will be present in the gallery on October 31 from 1pm - 3pm and would love to meet you!
Where: The Gallery at Flat Rock, 2702-A Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, N.C.
How much: Free and open to the public
“Animals, both domestic and wild, have been a major force and focus in my life for as long as I can remember,” says Alec, who spent 32 years in the field of veterinary medicine. “When I decided to explore painting as a hobby 24 years ago, it was only natural that I chose animals as my subject matter.”
Katherine, who grew up on a farm in southeastern Virginia, developed an early interest in the natural world of animals. “I hope to ignite a personal connection to nature for my audience by displaying the animals as beautiful, regal, emotive, and precious,” she says. “Artists and individuals have always used animal imagery and sightings as guides and narrators for our own experience as living beings, I am doing the same with clay as my medium.”
Alec’s paintings in the show, mostly pastels, focus primarily on horses—from powerful draft horses and elegant hunter-jumpers to long-maned ponies. “I want my viewers to experience these wonderful creatures just as I do,” he says. “It is my hope that when you look at my paintings, you can see the beauty and grace and can sense the strength and character of each animal.”
Katherine depicts a relative menagerie in her clay pieces, although horses are included, as well. In these pieces, horses are incorporated with birds, recalling time she spent in Tibetan China. “I became close friends with a Tibetan man, who grew up as a nomadic yak herder—he told me a story about birds and horses being from the same lineage in Tibetan belief, as they both represent flight.” Other than horses, she adds, her art focuses on wild animals. “I choose to focus on wild animals partly because I find it more interesting, but also because I have always loved being in nature and closely observing plants and creatures of the outdoors.
“Also, during a time of extreme habitat loss and extinction among many species, I want to highlight and honor the animals we often take for granted as permanent fixtures in our environment,” she says.