Robert Gregory Gross was a productive artist. His family has curated just a sampling of his work, ranging from pastoral landscapes to impressionist scenes, that will fill three rooms at the Flood Gallery Fine Art Center in Black Mountain. This will be first time for his work to exhibit in this region.
As light as air, as translucent as water, as earthy as cows grazing in a meadow, plein air master Robert Gregory Gross’s work is meticulously accurate and mysteriously subtle in portraying the often unseen aspects of our world. Watercolors, oils, etchings, ink and pencil sketches: Robert celebrates nature in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. If you look closely you may find angelic images in the whispery interplay between light and shadow.
The exhibit opens on Saturday, April 8, with a reception from 6-9 pm, featuring live music performed by Black Mountain’s very own, Upbeats Ukulele Orchestra. The band plays a wide range of melodies, which include the Beatles, Motown Hits, as well as favorites by The Eagles, Van Morrison, and many more. The Upbeats consist of local residents from Black Mountain, Montreat, and Swannanoa.
The exhibit will display through June 3, 2023. For more information, visit floodgallery.org, the Facebook page for updates, or call 828-273-3332.
About the Artist:
Robert Gregory Gross was born an artist. From early childhood, his extraordinary gift, vision, and passion for art informed his life. He studied art history and methodology from antiquity to the modern day: the Old Masters – Rembrandt and Rubens, Michelangelo and Da Vinci, analyzing their practices and techniques; dug deep into the traditions of American and English art – from James Whistler and Thomas Eakins to John Constable and William Turner; the Japanese arts of woodblock, printmaking, and calligraphy; and nature – from human anatomy to the profound observation of fauna and flora, climate and weather.
Robert graduated from the School of Industrial Arts and the prestigious School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. He exhibited in galleries in New York through the 60s-70s and then in Florida at numerous galleries and museums through 2019.
With a heart full of love and generosity of spirit, he shared his skills and knowledge with students for more than forty years of making art in the studio and in plein air sessions. Moreover, he inspired and nurtured them, providing a platform to showcase their work in public exhibitions year after year, and earning acclaim and recognition for his dedication and purpose.
His credo: “When I paint, I feel the breath of God.”
Like all events at the Flood Gallery Fine Art Center, this exhibition is free and open to the public. Light refreshments and food will be served. The exhibit will display through June 3, 2023. For more information, visit floodgallery.org. Flood Gallery Fine Art Center is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, and educates, encourages, challenges and inspires the community through music, film, literary, and contemporary art.