Animals take center stage in John Deering’s exhibit “The Story Teller” opening tomorrow at Cantrell Gallery. Deering explains in his artist statement:
“The work of my favorite visual artists has always had a strong narrative quality. Although it is a pretty eclectic list of names, these artists all have at least one common thread in their work. That is to say, it has some representational element, and may even be considered by some to be “illustrative.” Artists such as Ivan Albright, Henri Paul Rousseau and Francis Bacon may be worlds apart visually and thematically but one gets a sense of strong emotion from their work which can only be conveyed by a great storyteller. The paintings or ‘stories’ for this show are allegorical in nature, with animals as the protagonists. In some instances, the landscapes they dwell in function more as theatrical stages or back drops rather than natural environments.”
Deering is the political cartoonist at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. There will be a reception from 6-8 p.m. at the gallery; the show runs through Dec. 24.