On Friday, August 8th, new works by artist, Meico Gowan, will open in
the Kortman Gallery in an exhibition titled “Earth Impressions: Whispers
from My Past.”
Born in Bulgaria, Rockford artist Meico Gowan
spent part of his childhood in an orphanage not far from the bucolic
landscapes where goats graze the hillsides outside the Bulgarian city of
Yambol. The memories of these rustic settings are the inspiration for
Gowan’s paintings that are both figurative and abstract images he
creates from his impressions of the world around him.
Gowan, who also works in photography, was introduced to painting in college.
“I seem to be fascinated with earthly impressions of the hillsides
and landscapes around me, says Gowan. “In my paintings, I find myself
exploring whispers from my past with animals like goats and other
memories. Because I am a minimalist, many of my paintings will not
necessarily have pictures and images easily recognized, however, they
will frequently have earth tones that complement my paintings and fill a
need I am trying to express.”
“Meico is an intriguing,
emerging artist new to the Rockford art scene who has studied under the
tutorage of artist/teacher Leslie Arbetman at Roosevelt and Cherri Rittenhouse, professor of art at Rock Valley
College,” says Doc Slafkosky, gallerist for the Kortman Gallery. “He
brings an interesting and fresh artistic perspective with both his
paintings and photography.”
The Gowan exhibition, “ Earth
Impressions: Whispers from My Past” will be will be on display through
September 27th.The August 8th opening reception will be from 5:30 to
9pm.The Kortman Gallery is located upstairs at J. R. Kortman Center for
Design, 107 North Main Street. For further information call 815/968-0123
or visit www.jrkortman.com.