Art In Bloom, Indeed

One of the most beautiful and highly anticipated evenings of the summer season is the annual Art In Bloom opening reception at the Marion Art Center.

A partnership, or shall I say, pairing of paintings with floral arrangements not only captures the imagination but also the essence of what can be described as creative imagination at its finest.

On June 8, the gallery’s walls displayed triumphant paintings by artist Deborah Quinn-Munson accented by floral works of art arranged by members of the Marion Garden Group.

Quinn-Munson, whose paintings range from pastels to watercolors and oils, presented a range of works that featured themes of the sea and sky, woodland landscapes, and tender portraits resplendently saturated with light.

Quinn-Munson’s love of art began in childhood and evolved into a lifelong pursuit. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Art from the University of New Hampshire after attending the DeCordova Museum School in Lincoln, Massachusetts, a Master of Arts and Liberal Studies from Wesleyan University, and also attended Lyme Academy of Art. Adding to the list of her academic and artistic achievements, the artist also earned a master level designation from the International Association of Pastel Societies. Quinn-Munson is a member of the Salmagundi Club, The Copley Society of Art, Oil Painters of America, and is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America.

Quinn-Munson told The Wanderer, “My inspiration often comes from water – the Connecticut River and the ocean.” She said the changing colors found in water and the different tones and moods found therein are themes to which she often returns.

The artist said that as a child her family summered on Cape Cod and that she has lived in South Dartmouth, as well. Currently, Quinn-Munson lives in Connecticut where her studio is located.

When discussing the use of pastels in her works, Quinn-Munson said, “It is pure pigment giving the colors their vibrancy.” Those colors were on full display in such works as “Slippery When Wet,” “Field of Gold,” “Sweep of Sky,” and “Ocean Blue.”

For about ten years, the Marion Art Center has been holding the Art In Bloom exhibition, and this year’s floral presentations were once again breathtaking.

Designers Suzie Kokkins, Bobby Fuller, Connie Dolan, Heather Parsons, Karilon Grainger, and recent past president of the Marion Garden Group, Cassy West, paired their works of art with Quinn-Munson’s paintings, accenting the paintings’ colors and themes.

West’s floral arrangement was styled after Ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arranging that employs a few elements placed in cylindrical postures allowing each item’s individual identity to be seen, while playing off each other’s beauty.

Quinn-Munson’s works may be viewed until mid-July. You may also visit www.quinnmunson.com to learn more about the artist and her works, and check out www.marionartcenter.org for upcoming events at the center.

By Marilou Newell

 

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