LISSA ALEXANDER
reporter@pqbnews.com
Local artist Dan Gray’s work is currently hanging in an exhibit in New York City, and to coincide with opening night of that exhibit he’ll be holding an opening celebration in his loft in the woods of Errington March 9.
The group is called Landscape Artists International (LAI), of which Gray is a founder, and they are spread around the world in places like Rio de Janeiro, Scotland and Hawaii. Joining that group of artists at their Manhattan show is another called International Plein Air Painters, which Gray has also worked with in the past.
Gray said although he’s thrilled to be doing a show in NYC, he knows this isn’t “it.”
“It’s all baby steps that add up in your art careers,” he said, “but I'm excited about it.”
To support the traveling exhibition, which will move on to Pennsylvania and possibly Milan, LAI has recently published a coffee table book called Far and Near Horizons, filled with their artwork. Gray has the cover painting (voted on by members in the group), a scene of Qualicum Beach by the Brant Viewing station. He also has pieces painted from San Pariel, Rathtrevor and Nanoose Bay in the book.
“My thought is that Oceanside gets the benefits of artists not only painting here… and then now these pieces are moving out into the world and it shows Oceanside at its best,” he said. “It’s great advertising.”
The show in NYC runs to March 23, with opening night this Saturday, and at Gray’s opening in Errington on the same day he will show a collection of his big city pastels, along with recent works including the piece from the book cover.
The celebration happens from 1 to 6 p.m. in Gray’s loft at 1300 Grafton Ave. For more information visit www.dfgray.com.