|
Vallieres gets solo exhibit at Renaissance Art Gallery
By Craig Rice, Staff Writer
The McCandless artist who has quietly acquired a reputation as one of the most promising painters in the Pittsburgh region, R. Jean Vallieres, will be visiting a Carnegie art gallery before taking his tear-inducing renderings to major metropolitan centers. The Renaissance Art Gallery, located on Washington Avenue, will be the venue for more than 30 of Vallieres' breath- taking paintings that will be displayed beginning Tuesday, Feb. 8, and continuing through Saturday, Feb. 26. Vallieres has already accepted an offer from a gallery outside of Boston to display many of his works in the form of an exhibit this summer. He also expects to forge exhibits in Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Cleveland this year as well. "I have been drawing considerable attention, probably unearned, though," Vallieres says. "When I am prepared to state that I have produced my ultimate masterpieces, I will be less humble. I am not there yet." The upcoming art exhibit will not only feature the manifestations of this obsessed artist in the form of his timeless oil paintings, but also Vallieres in the flesh. This middle-aged man who grew up in Woonsocket, R.I. will be on hand to discuss his art during receptions on Friday, Feb. 11, from 6 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 12, from noon to 7 p.m. Four years ago, Vallieres resigned from a 26-year career in the high-tech industry to paint full-time. He has since been compulsively swiping brush strokes with the consistency and speed of a mass production factory line yet with the intricacy of the Sixteenth Chapel. However, he claims not to be obsessed, just passionate. "I am down to just six and a half days [painting per week]," Vallieres joked. "I still find time to walk in North Park, though." Several of Vallieres canvasses hang in various cathedrals of significance, including St. Paul Cathedral, Downtown Pittsburgh's Trinity Cathedral and Hertz Investment Group in Gateway Center, among others. He just completed a masterpiece titled "The Downpatrick Madonna" that is intended to be displayed in Down Cathedral, located in Downpatrick, Ireland. Vallieres, a humble man who described his recent success as just "moderate" envisions entertaining a wide variety of people from several social and economical classes at the Renaissance Art Gallery receptions. "I expect an eclectic group, which pleases me. Art is an not an elitist attempt to impose high culture. It is for everybody to view and essentially grow from. True art changes the viewer and expands the viewer's perception," Vallieres said. "Art offers more than pleasure. It offers the pain of spiritual growth drawing the viewer into areas of himself that he or she may not wish to encounter. It expands knowledge and understanding; that is why art is for everybody." Pat and Bill Jander, co-owners of the Renaissance Gallery, have displayed a small number of Vallieres' botanical paintings in the past. The upcoming Renaissance exhibit will feature a complete set of five original paintings of a "Library of Congress" series intended for the Smithsonian Institute. "We are delighted to welcome Mr. Vallieres to Renaissance Gallery," Pat said. "I am so impressed with his work that all the adjectives I usually use to describe fine artistic renderings seem to fall far short of the experience of actually viewing his pieces." Pat could envision Vallieres' paintings finding success in other cities. "I am confident his influence in today's and tomorrow's art arena will become increasingly impactful." |