"Illustrative" by James Dupree

Gallery 141 Presents Philadelphia Artist James Dupree


I've spoken of the Lancaster art scene before, and as of June's First Friday you can now find new and old works by James Dupree at Gallery 141. I introduced gallery owner and my close friend, Alana Hunter to my teacher and friend, James Dupree, shortly after I moved into Dupree Studios in West Philly. Immediately a show was in the works.

I also planted a seed back in March that resulted in a successful benefit show at James' own gallery in Philadelphia. Dupree Gallery hosted Foyer of Philadelphia whose president is also my good friend, Leigh Braden. Here is where I get recognized. :)



Anyway, Dupree's show, "Illustrative", at Gallery 141 is absolutely beautiful. Below left is a picture of a piece from a new series he has started entitled "Stay in the Light". Right is the artist standing between this piece and an older piece called "Life, Death, and Eternity". Both are mixed media.

The depth and light in these paintings, created by layers and layers, is breath taking. I should say that I intended this blog to simply be a report on the First Friday event and not any sort of comment on the actual art itself; but some things cannot go unsaid.



a view of the gallery- new, abstract works next to abstracted fish, above photorealism (one can also find posters of his painting of Philadelphia at the gallery)

others from the "Stay in the Light" series.

Also don't miss the aquarium section of the gallery where Mr. Dupree is showing his fish series: illustrative underwater paintings that look as if they are behind glass. (Incidentally, these can be ordered and glazed over by the artist in my different sizes using the Giclee print process)

But let's get to the opening night. Art lovers came out in the heat wave to see the work but none the less it was definitely a quieter night than usual. The featured artist was unable to attend the opening. Instead he attended his opening in Philadelphia at Sande Webster Gallery. This was a big show of Alumni from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art.

One of Dupree's private students did make it out to the show. Maria has been taking classes at Dupree Studios for the past year. For more information on instruction and residencies, visit the Dupree Studios Inc website.

Below are more pictures from the opening night of the show in Lancaster: I enjoyed watching as visitors contemplated this mixed media work and debated how they were done.

Gallery 141 is accustomed to getting hundreds of visitors each First Friday and serves up refreshments as well as live music. Below is a movie clip of the entertainment on June 6th.

"Illustrative" by James Dupree will remain up until the end of month. However, Mr. Dupree will be showing various works there until the end of the summer. For the month of July, "Revisions" by James Dupree will be traveling from his gallery in Philadelphia to Lancaster City.

Gallery 141 is one of the original and most eclectic galleries in Lancaster. Showing local artists and jewelers, as well as selling beads and textiles. Activities range from First Fridays and Music Fridays to beading parties, birthday parties, and weekly Yoga classes. For more information visit their blog by clicking HERE.