NAA to Host Exhibition in Conjunction with Cars on 5th
January 15, 2019
NAPLES, Fla. (January 15, 2019) – The Naples Art Association (www.NaplesArt.org) – a non-profit organization whose mission is to expand cultural opportunities, broaden education, and enrich Southwest Florida through the visual arts – is thrilled to announce that it will partner with HW Gallery (http://hwgallery.com) to host the Karen Barrow: Art of the Automobile exhibition from February 7 through February 9 in the Frederick O. Watson Gallery at the NAA, located at 585 Park Street in Naples. This exhibition is held in conjunction with Naples 14th Annual Cars on Fifth.
A special opening reception will be held at the NAA on Friday, February 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The reception is free for NAA donors with a suggested donation of $10 per person for the general public. Wine and light refreshments will be provided.
“As someone who began her art career at the NAA by volunteering for the original Gators Galore Project – my gator still sits in front of Yabba on 5th Avenue South – and attending art classes, I have truly come full-circle as an artist with this exhibition,” said Barrow. “With all of my work, I subscribe to Rauschenberg’s philosophy that the artist’s job is to be a witness to his time in history. With this particular exhibition, I not only document the changing technologies of the industry, but additionally, the images trigger memories of people, places, and events. When people interact with my work, stories inevitably unfold and that is always exciting. In a way, the viewers memories complete the painting.”
An award-winning artist as a teen, Barrow began painting in 2001 after raising her three children. She then attended Ringling College of Art & Design where her painting was included in “The Best of Ringling” juried show. She worked as an associate curator and art director for Naples area galleries while continuing to paint full-time in her studio. Her work evolved from primitive figures to mixed media collage and bold paintings. Pulling inspiration from her upbringing in the auto-manufacturing hub of mid-Michigan and family weekends spent at Sebring International Raceway, Barrow’s work focuses on the relationship between people and cars. Her work layers images from vintage auto brochures, her own photographs, stencils, paint, mediums, and sometimes auto parts. Combining the best of digital photography and the gestural movement of the abstract expressionists, Barrow creates her own digital expressionism. She layers and scrapes clear mediums and paint on her digital images, allowing chance to play an important role in her process. Her work encourages the discovery of both automotive and personal history. For more information about Barrow and her work, please visit www. BarrowArt.com.
The Naples Art Association is a respected and award-winning non-profit organization that has served and enriched the community by championing education, interest, and involvement in the visual arts in Southwest Florida since its inception in 1954. The Naples Art Association serves as a catalyst for individual artists of all ages and skill levels and continues to inspire all who visit to live and think artistically. A working art center, the NAA creates unique opportunities for local artists and guests as well with a full calendar of events each season including special exhibitions featuring local and national artists; Art in the Park—Naples’ oldest outdoor art show; highly rated outdoor art shows, including the Naples New Year’s Art Show, the Naples National Art Show, the Downtown Naples Art Show; For the Love of Art—Naples Art Association’s annual art celebration fundraiser; Scene to be Seen: A Runway Art Show; ARTScool summer arts education program for kids; over 100 various classes and workshops for all levels; and a myriad of collaborative outreach programs with area non-profits. The NAA also offers its space for rental for anyone looking to host an event in a unique venue. For more information about the Naples Art Association, please visit www.NaplesArt.org or call 239.262.6517.
Karen Barrow
RS 60 at Sebring, 2016
mixed media on Porsche 944 Hood
50 x 54 inches
Karen Barrow
The Best (or Nothing), 2016
mixed media on Mercedes hood
50 x 64 inches
Karen Barrow
The Ultimate (Driving Machine), 2016
mixed media on BMW 7 series hood
61 x 60 inches
