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May Issue 2009
The Sylvan Gallery
in Charleston, SC, Features Works by Shirley Novak
The
Sylvan Gallery in Charleston, SC, will present the exhibit, The
Hope Flowers Bring, featuring works by Shirley Novak, on view
from May 1 - 30, 2009.
Being surrounded with flowers, especially poppies, inspires smiles and hope for one's own summer garden as well as an understanding of the cycles of life. This show of Novak's new paintings will bring color and joy to one's heart.
Novak studied privately with Len Chmiel and then with Mark Daily at the Art Students League. Daily taught his classes to "paint what you love, and let your work become known for this." As she had always been drawn to country gardens and the old fashioned flowers, Novak decided to learn to paint them. "Garden mad" as the British expression goes, Novak's love of flowers and color drove her to become a painter. Well versed in gardening and well read, she followed Claude Monet words, "I perhaps owe it to flowers for having become a painter." The passion Monet had for his garden and that of Pissarro and Van Gogh inspires this artist to continually turn to her garden that provides great joy and countless ideas for paintings. Joseph Campbell said, "The function of art is to reveal the radiance running through all things" which expresses Novak's sentiments and her relationship to the natural world.
Novak's determination to paint can be explained by Calvin Coolidge words saying that... "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."
Thoreau's dictum to "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams... live the life you've imagined" added to the persistence has kept Novak painting through the years. Her husband Ralph Oberg is a very successful landscape and wildlife artist lending even more to her being surrounded by beauty and those who understand it. Novak's work is included in the permanent collection of the Western Colorado Center for the Arts, Grand Junction, Colorado and many collections.
The Sylvan Gallery specializes in 20th and 21st century representational art and carries a large selection of sculpture. They are pleased to represent the work of thirty or so artists of world renown including Rhett Thurman, Glenna Goodacre, Guido Petruzzi, Scott Burdick, Ted Ellis, Susan Lyon, Joan Potter and Nancy Bush.
The gallery is located in downtown Charleston's historic district and antique row. The gallery is a member of the Charleston Fine Art Dealers' Association (CFADA) and a founding partner of the Charleston Art Auction.
For further information
check our SC Commercial Gallery listings, call the gallery at
843/722-2172 or visit (www.thesylvangallery.com).
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