Gallery One opens with exhibition of contemporary art

Gallery One, Nashville' s newest source for exceptional contemporary fine art, opens Friday, February 18, with an exhibition of works from 17 artists.

   The gallery' s opening reception for the public will be held from 7-9 p.m., with an invitation-only preview beginning at 6 p.m. Located at 5133 Harding Pike in Belle Meade, Gallery One is a 3,200-square-foot gallery space owned and operated by Shelley Liles.

   The gallery features the diverse works of artists from throughout the country, including works from five Middle Tennessee based artists. The gallery' s emphasis is on paintings and works on paper, and – to a lesser extent – sculpture and photography.

   " I wanted to offer Nashville a gallery that celebrates fine art in a warm and inviting atmosphere, a place that offers a varied selection of contemporary work," says Liles Liles. " When you visit Hang Gallery in San Francisco or Stricoff Fine Art in New York you find a diverse selection of fine art – from more traditional representational works that have a contemporary spin, to large format abstracts. I didn' t want a gallery constrained by a particular style or approach, but rather one that featured substantial exhibition space where one could find that range and selection of quality works.

    " I have an appreciation for many approaches to art, and wanted to reflect that aesthetic in my gallery."
Gallery One will offer solo and group shows throughout the year; a demonstration by award-winning portrait artist Wanda Kemper will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 19, at the gallery.

    		Featured artists at Gallery One range from the whimsical works of Virgina-based artist John Borden Evans, noted for his richly layered acrylic works on paper; to the supersized watercolors of artist Helen Chilton, who zeroes in on her subjects in Georgia O' Keefe fashion, and the chaotic urban street scenes of trendsetting New York City native Marcus Antonius Jansen.

   Of Jansen, the New York Arts Magazine writes in its most recent issue: " Jansen, known for his unmistakable style that reminds viewers of old German Expressionism crossed with forgotten urban elements, refers to his work as modern " Urban-Expressionism." The 36-year-old Gulf War Veteran, who studied painting in Germany, has hit a nerve with private collectors and museums. He has received commissions from the Ford Motor Company to capture their 100 years of history on canvas. Jansen has recently shown with Robert Rauschenberg, Darryl Pottorf and other renowned artists residing in Florida at the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery in Fort Myers. His Painting " Diary of a New Jack" Auctioned off as the fifth highest Original Painting among 150 artists at the Arts for Act Art Auction hosted by Hollywood Star Tracy Ullman, which is held annually for the Women' s Abuse Shelter in Fort Myers Florida last year."

   Gallery One also features sculpture by Bell Buckle, Tennessee, sculptor Russ Faxon. Known primarily for his traditional life-size commissioned works in bronze (the Chet Atkins memorial on Music Row, to name one of many), Faxon also produces expressive, contemporary work in bronze through his Tree People collection.

   Gallery One is open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and from 10 a.m. to 2:00 on Sundays.