Paintings and sculpture reflect abstract qualities of nature

HURLEYVILLE, NY — The Catskill Art Society’s (CAS) opening reception of Sandra Salisbury and Peter Mott’s exhibit, “Forces of Nature,” will be held August 7 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Sullivan County Museum, 265 Main Street. This exhibit of mostly abstract paintings and sculptures by Salisbury and welded sculptures by Mott runs through August 31.

Salisbury was born and raised in Arlington, Virginia and worked and studied in several parts of the country before moving to New York City in 1977. “Molecular biology, astronomy and correspondences between the macro-and microcosms are major sources of imagery and inspiration for my visual work,” Salisbury explained. “I am fascinated by the processes of genesis, juncture and fracture in the flux of existence and by the allure of natural textures and archetypal geometries. I explore the aesthetic and metaphoric possibilities of these in paintings and sculptures that are primarily abstract. Occasionally, I am motivated to respond to current events, primarily in sculpture or installations.”

Mott, who has been making welded sculpture in Ellenville since 2001, works with old steel that he finds in dumps, swamps, woods, scrap metal yards and from the side of the highway. When this steel is transformed by nature and time and has been bent, broken, twisted, worn away and pitted by rust, it becomes more like a natural material such as stone or wood. Some of his sculptures incorporate stones and logs along with the old steel, and all of them have their place outdoors with the surrounding trees, grass and snow.

Mott has donated “The Sun at Mid-Winter,” a welded sculpture that is now displayed on the front lawn of the Sullivan County Museum.

Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. For more information call 845/436-4227, e-mail catskillartsociety@hvc.rr.com or visit catskillartsociety.org.