The Hang Up Gallery of Fine Art Presents:
Recent Works by Edsel LaBillois
An Exhibit of Original Landscape Oil Paintings
On view June 12th – July 29th
Opening Reception on Friday, June 16th from 6-8pm
"Essentialist. This is what someone once called my work. It struck me as a
very fitting description of my art. Simply because of what happens in every
piece that I create, is a reduction of unnecessary elements. I work towards stripping the composition down to only what I feel needs to be present to the viewer.
This is what people remember about the world they live in. They pick out what interests them, whether it be beautiful or interesting or intriguing. I love the solitude of nature, of being at peace with the natural world. Yet I love finding that same tranquility in the cities of the world. Being surrounded by throngs of people, taxis and skyscrapers is equally as fascinating. Beauty can be found almost anywhere. This is what I hope to convey in my works. I have developed a style, over the nearly twenty years of painting, that feels like my own. It wasn’t something I set out to do. I think it just happens to the artist that keeps working steadily. Composition and color are the most important things in my work although for subject matter I keep coming back to painting trees of all kinds.
I am heavily influenced by the work – as well as the work ethic – of Picasso and Van Gogh, as well as others from the last century. I also draw a great deal of inspiration from the world of graphic arts. By that I mean the aspect of communicating the message to the viewer in the most immediate way possible. This, to me, leads back to the word Essentialist. A place where my work feels at home."
~ Edsel LaBillois
Recent Works by Edsel LaBillois
An Exhibit of Original Landscape Oil Paintings
On view June 12th – July 29th
Opening Reception on Friday, June 16th from 6-8pm
"Essentialist. This is what someone once called my work. It struck me as a
very fitting description of my art. Simply because of what happens in every
piece that I create, is a reduction of unnecessary elements. I work towards stripping the composition down to only what I feel needs to be present to the viewer.
This is what people remember about the world they live in. They pick out what interests them, whether it be beautiful or interesting or intriguing. I love the solitude of nature, of being at peace with the natural world. Yet I love finding that same tranquility in the cities of the world. Being surrounded by throngs of people, taxis and skyscrapers is equally as fascinating. Beauty can be found almost anywhere. This is what I hope to convey in my works. I have developed a style, over the nearly twenty years of painting, that feels like my own. It wasn’t something I set out to do. I think it just happens to the artist that keeps working steadily. Composition and color are the most important things in my work although for subject matter I keep coming back to painting trees of all kinds.
I am heavily influenced by the work – as well as the work ethic – of Picasso and Van Gogh, as well as others from the last century. I also draw a great deal of inspiration from the world of graphic arts. By that I mean the aspect of communicating the message to the viewer in the most immediate way possible. This, to me, leads back to the word Essentialist. A place where my work feels at home."
~ Edsel LaBillois
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The Hang Up Gallery of Fine Art Presents:
Photography and Paintings of the Twin City Brothers Jung (Young) Images Along the Blue Highways of Rural Wisconsin (circa 1935-1980) On view August 1st – September 29th Opening Reception on Saturday, August 5th from 4-6pm The Hang Up Gallery of Fine Art is proud to present an exhibit featuring the artwork of brothers Peter Jung and Henry Young. Showcasing 15 of Henry's watercolor paintings and 15 of Peter's landscape photographs. The opening reception for the exhibit will be held on Saturday, August 5th from 4-6pm. Free admission with refreshments offered. |
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“For over more than four decades, both brothers tried to capture the essence of rural Wisconsin landscapes, starting in the early 1930’s to the late 1970’s. There is evidence that suggests some of Henry’s paintings were either painted from Peter’s photographs or that the two traveled together and depicted the same subject matter. Many of these images depict a very different and lost Wisconsin landscape; one with architecture influenced by the first wave of European immigrants who settled different parts of the state.”
~ Jeff Heimerman, Curator
Background on the artists:
Brothers Henry Young (nee Jung) (b. 5/1896-d. 12/1975) and Peter Jung (b. 1/1900-d. 4/1984), sons of Carl Jung, the City of Menasha Treasurer until 1911.
For decades, both brothers were very active civically in both Neenah and Menasha. Henry worked for Menasha Woodenware and Hardwood Products Corp and Peter was employed for the Marathon Paper Company. Both resided in Neenah for significant portions of their lives.
Peter was the President of the Winnebago Camera Club for many years. He was the first President of the Marathon Credit Union and treasurer for St Mary’s Parish, while also being on the Board of directors for the Menasha library.
Henry Young was the President of the Neenah Historical Society and was a member of the Neenah Rotary Club committee, which was instrumental in the planning and construction of the Bergstrom Art Center.
Both Peter and Henry exhibited at the Menasha and Neenah Libraries numerous times between 1939 and 1980. Peter also exhibited in several locations across East Central Wisconsin (Fon du Lac, Sheboygan, Oshkosh, Neenah-Menasha, Appleton, Waupaca and Ephraim).
Peter and Henry were both well-known artists in the valley and at the state level. Peter’s photographs were used in the Wisconsin Historical Society’s annual calendar in five different years. His work was also published in state periodicals and the Door County Keys to the Door Peninsula.
