Green Cupboard
acrylic on linen
54 x 54"
about4 x 7 x 7"
carved wood and acrylic paint
The work of North Carolina artist Gregory Smith is a smart mix of impressive skill and thoughtful insight. He churns out gorgeous landscapes, iconic still lifes and decidedly contemporary trompe l'oeil tableaux and objects. It's easy to be dazzled so thoroughly by the guy's rendering skills that you miss the quieter, under the surface dialogue, but it's a mistake to let that happen. Gregory's connection to and love for the Appalachia of his childhood lies at the heart of much of his work. While i would hesitate to call the work a commentary on gentrification or globalization, (it's far too complex and personal to be written off as such) it certainly helps bring into focus these issues and how they relate to the ongoing transformation of a once culturally distinct region. Gregory's personal website is at http://trompegregory.com/gallery_site.htm Stop by, look around and drop him a line to let him know how much the addition of updated images and show announcements would be appreciated.
