By Audrey Anderson
Hometown Weekly Reporter
On Thursday night, July 13, the Zullo Gallery held an opening reception for their latest exhibition, Take 4, which shows the varied work of four talented artists: Lissa Banks, Deborah Friedman, Amy Parker, and Tracey J. Maroni. The reception was well-attended, and guests enjoyed talking with the artists, looking at the art pieces, partaking of refreshments, and relaxing on the deck that overlooks the Medfield Town Hall.
Lissa Banks’ work includes large paintings of dramatic, brightly colored tulips and other flowers on black backgrounds. These highly pigmented flower pieces, made with acrylic paints, demand attention. A few, hung in the staircase leading to the entrance of the gallery, greatly enliven the small, dark space.
Banks’ other works include realistic, lifelike paintings of children and others in a situation, such as at a birthday party, acting up on the front steps, and a boy with butterflies around his head. They have the feeling of Rockwell’s illustrations, but are focused on contemporary America. Lissa shows her subjects as they were at the time, in one of Henri Cartier’s “decisive moments,” and without idealization. Two boys that Banks included in her works were present at the opening and posed with one of the paintings.
Deborah Friedman’s contemplative, colored-pencil drawings of stones fascinate the viewer with varied reflections, colors, and arrangements. Some stones are seen through the glass of a bowl, some are underwater, and some are casting shadows on other stones, as they are piled one on top of the other. Friedman demonstrates enormous skill in conveying each of these features.
Amy Parker offers delightful, pop-inspired pieces drawn with colored pencil. As with Friedman’s works, Parker’s pieces also show amazing accuracy with details, including reflections, metallic surfaces, shadows, and others. Her subjects include a safety pin, a Titleist golf ball, ear buds, Legos, a rubber ducky (titled “You’re the One”), and other common objects. Parker’s work looks clean and fresh on mostly white backgrounds.
Tracey Moroni’s mixed media works add a moody, abstract style in a counterpoint to the realistic pieces in the show. She uses areas of soft color to create an effect or impression. The viewers can add their own interpretations, from their own perspectives. Some of her pieces are cozily small, and others are larger, atmospheric pieces. Moroni also uses areas of metallic paints to highlight areas, bringing contrast and drama to her pieces.
The Zullo Gallery has been showing art exhibitions in Medfield for 35 years. The gallery is cozy and comfortable. The artwork shines in its well-lit open space. The roomy deck adds space for relaxed conversation. The Zullo would be a great place in which to hold an intimate performance or gathering, and Director William Pope confirmed that the space is available to be rented for such events.
