Momentum Gallery

“I find real magic in the quiet and quirky moments out in nature, weird light, or the way things line up,” states artist Casey Roberts.
“Tree Stump with Salamander”
Cyanotype painting with gouache
30 x 30 inches
https://momentumgallery.com/artists/75-casey-roberts/works/6457/

Extensive and intensive study of neglected structures informs the works of artist Seth Clark. “An interplay between suffering and resilience is found in forgotten places,” notes the artist.
“Barn 18”
Collage, charcoal, pastel, graphite, and acrylic on wood
30 x 40 inches
https://momentumgallery.com/artists/94-seth-clark/works/6470/

An underpainting of collaged torn paper serves as a base for artist Mariella Bisson’s eloquent oil paintings and adds animation to the geometry of forms, the textures and colors of her natural scenes. Bisson’s work is featured in our “Enchanted Canopy” group exhibition.
“Boulders and Birches”
Oil and mixed media on linen
38 x 60 inches
https://momentumgallery.com/artists/34-mariella-bisson/works/6418/

Composed of jewel-toned and patterned fabrics, artist Ann Harwell's detailed, quilted tapestries transform fractured and prismatic planes into a holistically diverse unity. One of many works featured in the gallery's "Enchanted Canopy" group summer exhibition.
"Church in the Wildwood"
Art quilt
71 x 65 inches
https://momentumgallery.com/artists/193-ann-harwell/works/6403/

A Rhode Island School of Design graduate, Seth Clark discovered collage while earning a BFA in Graphic Design. His seamless combination of collage and mixed media contribute depth, dimension and a beauty to these dilapidated structures.
"Pink Fort"
Collage, charcoal, pastel, graphite and acrylic on wood
72 x 48 inches
https://momentumgallery.com/artists/94-seth-clark/works/6476/

“For the last decade, I have been striving to transform cast glass surfaces, bringing a greater connection between the object and the viewer,” states internationally-recognized glass artist Joanna Manousis.
“Electri”
Mold blown and press-molded glass, mirror, stainless steel in collaboration w/Manberg Projects.
54 x 27 x 6 inches
https://momentumgallery.com/artists/64-joanna-manousis/works/6523/

“Enchanted Canopy,” the gallery’s summer group exhibition, features works inspired by trees and forests sparking impactful conversations about the environment and our interaction with it.
David Shingler
“Cold Mountain, Sunset Forest, North Carolina”
48 x 84 inches
https://momentumgallery.com/artists/142-david-shingler/works/6454/

Depth & dimension are achieved in Seth Clark's deconstructed and deteriorating structures through an ambitious layering process of collage and mixed media.
"Barn 11"
Collage, charcoal, pastel, graphite, acrylic on wood
42 x 72"
https://momentumgallery.com/artists/94-seth-clark/works/6468/

Thank everyone who joined us for the opening reception for our solo shows featuring Dale Chihuly, Seth Clark, Joanna Manousis and the tree themed group show, Enchanted Canopy. If you weren’t able to attend, these are exhibitions you do not want to miss. They will stay intact through August 24th, so make a note on your calendar, or view the exhibition on our website.

#

Join us this Thursday evening from 5-8 pm for the opening reception of four new summer shows. Joanna Manousis, Seth Clark, and Dale Chihuly have solo exhibitions, and we have a collaborative Enchanted Canopy exhibition that features work from Bradlee Shanks, Paul Messink, David Shingler, Mariella Bisson, Rachel Campbell and more! Bring your family and friends for light refreshments and a chance to meet a few of our artists!

As we celebrate the beginning of summer, Momentum Gallery is proud to present four new exhibitions which include two solo shows featuring Seth Clark and Joanna Manousis, Dale Chihuly on Broadway, and a collaborative Enchanted Canopy show with tree themed artworks from David Shingler, Paul Messink, Samantha Bates, Mariella Bisson, Lilian Garcia-Roig, Ann Harwell, and more. The opening reception is Thursday, June 27th from 5 - 8 pm with light refreshments and canapes. We hope to see you there!

Momentum Gallery would like to wish a very Happy Birthday this week to some of our favorite landscape painters, Mariella Bisson and John Cleaveland Jr.! Mariella creates her plein air watercolors on site near the mist of waterfalls, and then she shreds and collages them into her monumental oil paintings. John Cleaveland creates hyper realistic paintings in which no detail is spared. We get lost in their immersive landscapes, and we invite you to join us and come see them in the gallery or online!

As pillars of strength in family and community, Momentum Gallery wishes a Happy Father’s Day to everyone including our owner and director, Jordan Ahlers! Featured in this post are our artists Ron Isaacs, Casey Roberts, Heather Hietala, Casey Roberts, David Ellsworth, and Andy Farkas. It’s not too late to get your father something special this year!

Samantha Keely Smith’s abstract oil paintings are entrancing when viewed up close. These detailed shots demonstrate her use of thinning agents which allow some areas in her layers of washes to separate, and then she enhances the crackled texture with smaller details. Some brush strokes are heavy and foreboding, while others are luminous and ethereal and invite you to immerse yourself in her work. Her show runs for one more week, so come see her solo show in person!

Heather Hietala’s work has changed over the course of her career, but it has always centered around the idea of journeying forward through life and the resiliance of the human spirit. Her work ranges from textiles to stoneware with upcycled glass and inscribed poetry, using mixed media to expand upon her conceptual notions. She uses vessels as a recurring motif as they relate to the bouyancy and lightness of stepping onto a forward moving ship.

Brian Sostrom’s atmospheric acrylic paintings will calm your mind and your living space. They remind us of when fog lifts off of the lake in the early morning, or as twilight ascends after a breathtaking sunset. If you haven’t seen these meditative works in person, visit the gallery to see the full collection! His solo exhibition will run until June 22nd.

Samantha Keely Smith’s oil paintings resemble seismic volcanic activity, billowing waves in the ocean, cataclysmic cumulus storm clouds, or peaceful heavenly vistas depending on your
mood for the day. She layers thin washes of oils to illuminate her pigments and uses a tactile, impasto texture to build up the surface of her work. Occassionaly she imbeds figures into her abstract compositions, but you will have to come into the gallery to truly appreciate their details. Her show will stay intact until June 22nd.

#828

If you happen to be visiting Asheville this Memorial Day, bring your friends and family to enjoy our 85+ artists curated across our two floor contemporary gallery. Featured in this red, white, and blue post is a fabulous abstract oil landscape from Samantha Keely Smith, a sleek acrylic 3-dimensional sculpture by Paul Rousso, and a dreamy, contemplative cyanotype by Casey Roberts. We hope you enjoy the three day weekend and have a meaningful holiday!

Join us tomorrow from 2 - 4pm for an artist talk and reception with locally based and nationally acclaimed artist Heather Hietala! Heather’s mixed media and stoneware vessels explore personal journeys, rites of passage, and the continuously forward trajectory of life. Take a voyage through the artist’s own words as she speaks on her solo exhibition, which will be on display through June 22nd.

“My art distills and expresses my journey through life. With a singular voice I explore form, purpose, and design through experimentation with a diverse range of materials. I have a unique way of using intuition and experience to guide me, engaging in a dialogue that explores relationships and the cyclical nature of life. I am an innovator across many mediums; including wood and salt-fired ceramics, cloth, wire, paper, and natural materials from my orchard garden.” - Heather Hietala

Thank everyone who came out for our opening receptions to celebrate Samantha Keely Smith, Brian Sostrom, and Heather Hietala. We appreciate your support of Momentum Gallery and our incredibly talented artists. If you weren’t able to attend the opening, the exhibitions will remain intact through June 22nd. We will also be having an artist talk for Heather Hietala on May 19th from 2-4 pm with the presentation beginning at 2:15 pm. We hope to see you there!

Tonight we have our opening reception for three new solo shows. Samantha Keely Smith’s saturated oil paintings bring on the summer heat, Brian Sostrom’s atmospheric acrylics are cool and calming, and Heather Hietala’s ethereal ceramics will guide you through a meditative journey.

Join us from 5-8 pm! We hope to see you!

Michael Barringer’s new abstract acrylic paintings are highly saturated yet have subtle details that slowly reveal themselves upon further inspection. Barringer masks off geometric shapes and creates ghosted sacred geometry throughout his intricate compositions. Michael is inspired by Gee’s Bend quilts, Hubble Telescope images, cave art, sacred sites and texts, nature forms, ancient rituals, jazz music, and poetry.

“We’ve all had experiences which seem to connect us to a larger existence. We are transported to a threshold of new understanding and resonance. As a visual artist, I celebrate this unique human capacity – I channel sensations, emotions, and ideas, producing a unique voice which lives in the work that I make.” - Michael Barringer

Momentum Gallery proudly presents three new solo exhibitions with an opening reception on Thursday, May 9th, from 5- 8 pm. Join us in celebrating the smoky, atmospheric landscapes of Brian Sostrom, ceramic works from transient traveller Heather Hietala, and oil paintings from abstract powerhouse Samantha Keely Smith! If you’re unable to attend the opening reception, the exhibitions will be intact through June 22nd.

Momentum would like to introduce Sara Conca, a Florida-based, multimedia abstract artist whose explosive, atmospheric qualities resemble cosmic nebulas. She practices what is called reverse-painting, where she paints on the backside of an acrylic panel allowing for a sleek, high-gloss finish. She also uses a variety of materials including paint, minerals, ground crystals, mica flakes, and more! With twinkling gems, fluid metallics, and expressive brushwork, we are thrilled to share the newest addition to our roster of increble artists.

The lush, green foliage is returning to our mountain region, so come in to celebrate the spring season with Meg Lagodzki’s immersive collaged landscapes and oil paintings. Meg’s process involves painting colored paper that she cuts into individual pieces and collages back into her compositions. She typically works from scenes around her home studio in Bloomington, Indiana. Her solo exhibition will be up for two more weeks!

Tommy Simpson’s interdisciplinary practice seamlessly blends wood, paint, paper, ceramics, functional furniture, and even poetry with a whimsical twist. Tommy worked in New York in the 70’s, and we are lucky to have him now locally based in Asheville! Stop by on Sunday afternoons for the next two weeks if you would like to meet him in person. His show will be up through the end of April.