Art show opening June 22nd Gallery 1 Sylva - the Art of Beth and Ken Bowser

Description

After an unavoidable delay, the much anticipated opening of new work at Gallery 1 Sylva will be held on Friday, June 22nd, with a reception beginning at 5:00 p.m. Beth and Ken Bowser will present their unique work in the backstreet gallery room until August 4th.   

Beth, a native of Atlanta, GA, has been working with glass since 1980. Her first glass ventures were in Stained Glass and have expanded to include kiln formed glass. 

Beth says that inspiration for her art comes from many sources, including nature, her imagination, and what she sees in a piece of glass when she looks at its unique characteristics. Both glass art forms offer challenges, but, for Beth, kiln formed glass offers more creative challenges, because one is ever quite sure what will come out of the kiln. She says, “Some pieces come out of the kiln as expected, others are happy accidents, while others are accidents waiting to be redeemed. And, yes, pieces have found their way into the trash.”

Her stained glass creations include copyrighted designs and numerous commissions in stained glass and kiln formed glass. Her kiln formed works include, but are not limited to pendants, most of which are one-of-a-kind; bowls; plates; vases; and free-hand designs. Both forms of glass art can be found in private residences, business offices, churches, and other settings across the country. 

Ken began painting some 60 years ago.  He started with oils, but came to know a great watercolor painter near where he lived at the time and found himself hooked on watercolor.  For a number of years painting was a hobby, occasionally attending a workshop or painting on Saturdays with a group of fellow watercolorists in northeastern Ohio.

Every other year trips to Colorado and New Mexico with mentor Lowell Ellsworth Smith were always a plus.  They ventured to Mexico twice where it was a treat to meet some of the western artists and listen to their adventures in the art world.

Upon retirement he moved to the Highlands-Cashiers plateau.  Where else could one find so much natural beauty right outside the door?  Painting became more of an avocation, rather than just a hobby.  

Favorite subjects include landscapes, continuing to paint with oils and pastels gives him more tools to capture the beauty in which he lives.While weather dictates whether one paints outdoors or not, painting in the open air is the ideal.

Besides showing in Gallery 1, Beth and Ken’s work  is also available at The Bascom Gift Shop in Highlands, NC, Tsaristry Gallery near Franklin NC and Gallery 1 Sylva.