Out Like a Lamb
An Arts Access virtual exhibition
Arts Access is pleased to present a special two-part exhibition to celebrate the arrival of spring. Inspired by the proverb, “In like a lion, out like a lamb,” these exhibitions will explore a variety of works that embody the unique characteristics of the transitional weather during springtime.
Inspired by Nature
According to the Farmers’ Almanac, this weather folklore stems from ancestral beliefs in balance, meaning if the weather at the start of spring was bad (roaring, like a roaring lion), the season should end with good weather (gentle, like a lamb). Similarly, the paintings in these two exhibits mirror this balance between chaos and calm.
Roaring Emotions on Canvas
The first installment of the exhibit, In Like a Lion, highlights paintings that reflect the roaring and uncertain weather of early spring. Techniques and forms such as splatter paint, biomorphic shapes, and heavily layered, contrasting patterns are seen in the work of artists such as Chet Cheesman, Lloyd Decker, and Cheryl Chapin. The paintings are connected through their gestural, chaotic, and seemingly uncalculated nature. Looking at the exhibit as a whole, we can ponder if the artist’s marks were preplanned, or rather an emotional expression on the canvas.
Subtle Reflections Rendered in Paint
The second part of the exhibit, Out Like a Lamb, features the opposite: hard-edged shapes, monochrome color studies, and a focus on process and form rather than movement. The subtleties in paintings by artists such as Nancy Soto, Luis Rodriguez, and Philip Fisher are both meditative and fascinating, and provoke the viewer to pause and reflect on their simplicity. Just like the end of spring, this exhibit offers a moment of solace and calm after the storm.
The Out Like a Lamb exhibition will be available online April 19 – May 31, 2023. To view, click on the gallery image below.
If you are interested in purchasing a piece from the exhibit, please email: julia@artsaccessprogram.org/staging
