From 20 NORTH GALLERY
Fom July 14 through Sept. 23, 20 North Gallery will present “Exploring the Western Wild: Jan Bell and Jane Williams,” an exhibition of black and white photography by Ansel Adams Photo Competition award-winning artist Jan Bell and vibrant watercolor and oil paintings by artist Jane Williams, that capture the natural beauty of the North American West. Both having grown up in Northwest Ohio, Bell and Williams each developed an appreciation for the land, which has been further inspired by their national and international travels.
The exhibit will open with a free public reception on Friday, July 14, 2023 from 6-9 p.m., featuring a light tapas buffet and cash bar by Venue. The exhibition will continue through Sept. 23 at the gallery at 20 North Gallery, 18 N. St. Clair Street in downtown Toledo. Gallery hours are Wednesday – Saturday: noon to 4 p.m. and by appointment by calling 419-241-2400.
The black and white photography of Jan Bell explores the forms of wild spaces and the conservation of their natural splendor. Through the use of techniques such as long exposure, his landscapes convey the impressions of water, rock and flora.
[RELATED: Photographer Jan Bell puts his luminous visions of nature into a book]
Jane Williams’ paintings of landscapes, flora, people and animals are inspired by her travels to Arizona since 2010, influenced dually by the beauty of the Southwestern deserts and her background in graphic design and illustration. Her work focuses on texture, pattern and design to create vivid interpretations of the liveliness of the desert.
20 North Gallery art director Condessa Croninger adds, “Like many, I have always found the breathtaking variety and beauty of the North American landscape an endless source of amazement—in ‘Exploring the Western Wild,’ artists Jan Bell and Jane Williams have transformed that prevalent sense of wonder into a source of endless inspiration. Bell’s haunting imagery, captured in Black & White photography in the iconic tradition of Ansel Adams, provides evocative hints of adventure to parts unknown. Conversely, William’s vivid colors and linear detail emphasize the meditative focus she so effectively applies to the overwhelming vastness of the Southwest.”
The artists:
Jan Bell (Bowling Green) attended a private college in Ohio then completed his work, specializing in graphic design and photography, at Bowling Green State University. Bell currently leads an annual week-long photography workshop in the fall at Rock Island Lodge in Ontario (Canada). The artistic pursuit of untouched landscapes has taken Bell across North America, traveling tens of thousands of miles, for often up to months at a time. His work has been widely exhibited from coast to coast, earning him grants and awards including the Grand Prize Award in the Ansel Adams Photo Competition. He has garnered a multitude of best of show awards, most recently (2023) receiving two separate awards for his Mitchipicoten Stillness photograph. His work is included in over a dozen issues of B&W Magazine, receiving numerous awards presented by this publication. Bell’s work forms part of several private and corporate collections, including that of the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) and the Toledo Museum of Art (Ohio).
Jane Williams (Maumee / Tucson, Arizona) studied design and illustration at Kendall School of Design in Grand Rapids (Michigan) and received a BFA degree from Bowling Green State University (Ohio), studying drawing, watercolor and art history. She has furthered her studies with many workshops, including those taught by regional painters Walter Chapman, Jeanne Dobie and Frederick Graff, as well as national painters Tony Couch, Howard Friedland and Joshua Been. Williams has been included in multiple group and solo exhibitions receiving many First Award and Best of Show awards for her watercolors and oils. She was a signature member of the Northwestern Ohio Watercolor Society from 1996 until its dissolution in 2011, over the years serving as treasurer and then president. Williams is currently a signature member of Ohio Watercolor Society, as well as maintaining her membership in the Athena Art Society.
In addition to the featured exhibit, 20 North Gallery continues to display glass, paintings and jewelry by noted artists of the region. Gallery hours are Wednesdays through Saturdays from noon to 4p.m.
The “Exploring the Western Wild: Jan Bell and Jane Williams” online exhibition catalogue, containing artist information, art images and artwork prices will be posted on the exhibit page at 20northgallery.com soon.
