Dubai's Helena Fann First US Show

It was a colorful evening for the visitors to Turning Point Gallery on July 11th. Shown here in front of Helena Fann's work are gallery owners Garry and Jerri Meldrum, Helena center and Art Consultants Sarah Coppola and Marlowe Dutton.

Undersea Imagery With Nude Drama

Artist’s Acrylics Stage Turning Point From South African to Dubai Culture

Feathery angelfish float serenely through a sea of dramatic aquatic hues in one painting, as a human female form wrapped in erotic ribbons of color radiates nearby in another. Could both paintings come from same artist? Only if that artist is Helena Fann.

Turning Point Gallery’s featured artist July 3-Aug. 4 presents “Scales, Skins and Things,” an unlikely blend of undersea splendor with startlingly beautiful—and mature—human forms. Known for her vibrant aquatic and nude paintings, acrylic artist Fann recently relocated to Raleigh, but was born in South Africa and owns a home in Dubai.

“With me I bring a bit of Dubai culture—in the form of abstracts, which is very popular over there,” she says. “They love rich colors, the color of the ocean, the warmth of the desert and the color of gold.”

Fann will attend an opening reception during the 2ndFrday ArtWalk at Turning Point gallery July 11 from 6-9. Fann will also serve as the judge for a Turning Point Gallery children’s art contest, which seeks 2D, 8-by-10-inch undersea pictures in any medium from contestants in two age groups: 3-5 and 6-8. The gallery will award a prize to the winner of each group, as well as an overall prize of an original painting by Fann.

Fann matriculated from Johannesburg School of Art, Ballet & Music. She was commissioned to illustrate a children's book during her final year in school, and went on to work in the display department of a large company designing posters and building props for window displays. After marriage and the birth of her son, Fann started her own advertising and promotions company, which left little time for painting. She moved to Cape Town in 1993 with her new husband and extended family, where she was able to fully pursue her passion for drawing and painting.
“The clear vibrant colors she uses together with the strong lights and darks give depth to the ocean and to the painting,” says Patricia Southcombe, former gallery director of Hunar Gallery in Dubai. “In their own way, these paintings are also very evocative with the floating fins of the angelfish.”

Christopher Southcombe met Fann while serving as Dubai International Art Centre’s chairman when she joined on as a teacher, and was particularly struck by the originality of her nude works. “Sensuality is well expressed in forms such as those clothed in the leopard skin and the giraffe skin,” he says. “By depicting only a part of the female form, essential characteristics of each animal can be inferred. The graceful power of the leopard and the serene elegance of the giraffe are subtly expressed.”

Learn more about Fann, her upcoming show and the children’s art contest at www.harmonyfineart.com.

Painter Wilfred Lang "Summer Abroad"

Turning Point Gallery in Chapel Hill will display 15 original paintings from acrylic artist Wilfred Lang June 5-July 3 in an exhibit titled “Summer Abroad”. The gallery will also feature his work at the 2ndFriday ArtWalk June 13, 6-9.

Wilfred’s unique and instantly recognizable style reveals a clever use of color coordinating and color integration techniques that create three-dimensional effects. He combines elements of Eastern and Western culture and inspiration, displaying what Turning Point Gallery owner Jerri Meldrum calls “a pleasing transition between realism and abstract” for local collectors.

The artist, who signs his paintings as “Wilfred,” exhibits original work in Hawaii, New York, Hong Kong and Barcelona in addition to Chapel Hill. Born in Shanghai, Wilfred currently resides in Amsterdam, which serves as his second home and the gateway for sharing his art with the world.

Wilfred started watercolor painting at the age of 7, and attended art schools in China and Hong Kong, where he began his modern contemporary work. His acrylic-on-canvas paintings are gallery-wrapped so they do not require further framing, since the image wraps around the edge. Wilfred paints in large formats with the majority of his artwork covering 40x40 inches or 36x48 inches—an exceptional value for such high quality work.

“When I am not creating art, I enjoy walking my dogs in the forest around my town,” Wilfred says. “People who know me best would describe me as a good friend with an open house living situation.”

Simon Bull New Original Arrives in Chapel Hill

Simon Bull's newest original Fanfare III arrived this week in Chapel Hill at Turning Point Gallery. A dramatic 24"x 24" represents another dimension of Simon's ever evolving body of work.

Also arriving is Simon Bull's latest limited edition release Living The Life is available in 18"x 24", 24"x 32" and 30"x 40", all gallery wrapped ready to hang without a frame or add a frame. See more at our website www.harmonyfineart.com.
or visit our studio .

Lasting Impressions - Absolutely

Maeve Harris and Wayne Salge delighted quite a crowd last Friday night.

Wayne explained how he is able to create sculptures that express feeling by using shape, line and form rather than realistic depiction. Maeve explained her techniques in using chemical reactions as well as mechanical methods of extracting an image deep within multiple layers.

Taylor Stephenson was given a special graduation gift by her aunt in two Maeve Harris giclees on canvas which Maeve personalized on the back.




On Saturday Maeve demonstrated her techniques and enlisted the help of special assistants Lauren and Jason seen here.



And what a Lasting Impression (i.e. heirloom) for this Chapel Hill family








Before returning to Seattle, Maeve was treated to North Carolina pulled pork bbq at the Brighthorse Farm and Art Studio in Chatham County. She learned from equestrian Cindy McWilliams and Art Director Kim Greene how they also combined Maeve's passion for horses and art into numerous programs for children and adults.



Turning Point Gallery owner, Jerri Meldrum discussed some future riding prospects with Tara.

Lasting Impresssions

Turning Point Gallery’s “Lasting Impressions” show will elegantly blend Seattle, Washington-based painter Maeve Harris’ expressions of color and light with Johnstown, Colorado-based sculptor Wayne Salge’s focus on shape, line and form. The gallery, located at University Mall in Chapel Hill, will also host a reception for Harris and Salge May 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. during the 2ndFriday ArtWalk.

Maeve will also be demonstrating her painting techniques on Saturday May 10th 1-4 p.m. in front of the gallery.

Maeve Harris uses various inks and pigments to integrate traditional subject matter, such as horses or flowers, with contemporary styles and techniques. She focuses on the medium and process first, and from that, a concept surfaces.

Many of her paintings disclose her interest in natural and organic forms, and her lifelong passion for horses. Born in New Jersey in 1976, Maeve Harris became an equestrian at an early age and perfected the art of horse dressage. Saturday evening Maeve Harris is attending a private BBQ hosted by BrightHorse Farm & Art Studio.

Study abroad in Florence, Italy also influenced her life personally and artistically. Harris discusses her paintings on YouTube . Her work also appeared on the set of “Celebrity Apprentice.”

Wayne Salge was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. He attended San Antonio College and La Villita School of Art. Originally a student of abstract painting, Salge switched to sculpture at the suggestion of a college professor. He worked as a television director, Army illustrator, advertising agency art director and freelance graphic designer following graduation, but remained devoted to sculpture.

Salge says his sculpture depicts a “not easy to label or describe” style. He applies the painting term of impressionism to his work, and often molds humans and animals, but says “sometimes the terminology ‘stylized,’ ‘modern’ or ‘contemporary’ is used. It falls somewhere between realism and abstraction.”

Visit here to view more work from Maeve Harris and Wayne Salge.

Ruffin Hobbs launches Spring Fever

Ruffin Hobbs has been a featured artist at Turning Point Gallery in University Mall, Chapel Hill, NC for over 7 years. Ruffin and his wife live in a wonderful restored grist mill in Alamance County, North Carolina. It is in this setting that Ruffin has his large studio for creating masterpieces such as the 7000 pound stainless tigers at Princeton University, the giant mobile at the Durham Museum of Life and Sciences and a recent sculpture addition to UNC Chapel Hill.

Every year at Turning Point Gallery Ruffin unveils 10-15 new pieces as he did this last Friday night.
The three pieces shown here are the life size Poised, a delicately balanced mixed metal staibile and Phoenix on the right. The whole new collection can be seen at Ruffin's New Works Page.