By Tom Rhea
On Display: October 3rd – November 11th
A Change in Light: As a continuation of his interest in painting the limestone architecture in Indiana, Tom began a series of paintings from his last trip to Florence, Rome, and Puglia (on the Adriatic coast of Italy). Puglia contains some of the oldest continually inhabited settlements in the world, like Matera carved out of and into the limestone cliffs of the region. In the even Mediterranean light of Rome, the Baroque marble fountains, flashing in the water spray and sunlight, offer one color and every color in the exquisitely carved stone. The Italian paintings were followed by a series of scenes from a trip up Route 1, along the coast of California. In the uniquely intense sun of California, the exteriors of Hearst Castle are a striking imitation of Italian architecture. On the hallmark coastline of Point Lobos, Tom made some of the first pure landscape paintings of his career. And the candy-colored Victorians along Haight Street in San Francisco were irresistible. All in all, both places represent a remarkable change in light from the haze of Indiana summers.