The Bowersock Gallery will once again pair two of its top, accomplished painters Dennis Perrin and Scott Schnepf and add the renowned sculptor Christopher Gowell in its late summer exhibition "Serenity." The three-person show runs from August 18 through September 5, with an Opening Reception on August 18 from 7 to 10 p.m, at the Gallery, 373 Commercial Street. In addition Perrin will give a free talk on, "How to See as an Artist" on August 17, at the Gallery at 10 a.m.


"This is a show drenched in mood, two wonderful painters who create beauty, laden with atmosphere and feelings," says owner, painter Steve Bowersock. "We paired these two last year and got a huge response to the show. Repeatedly we heard the same thing, together they evoke another time, but with timeless beauty."

While working up the year's line up, it made sense to add the romantic, representational work of sculptor Christopher Gowell along side these painters, says Bowersock. Gowell, who owns Sanctuary Arts, a school of art in Maine, is unquestionably one of the regions best known and respected sculptors, and her work is a perfect compliment to the other featured artists.

"While Christopher's portrait busts are representational, they are treated in a magical way' embellished with fauna and floral, even the occasional humming bird. Her figures are stunning, elegant and sophisticated,"says Bowersock.

Gowell will also exhibit full figures. "If at all possible, given the incredible pieces we've exhibited in the past, her latest nude, male figure, done half life-size is her best to date."

Gowell, who has sculpted for the past three decades, has taught at numerous institutions including the University of New Hampshire and Monserrat College of Art. Her commissioned and fine arts pieces are sculpted in clay and cast in bronze, cement, iron, silver, plaster, and resin. Her public commissions include a commemorative Franco- American mother and son six- foot bronze sculpture for a riverside park in Nashua NH, and a bronze fire fighter's memorial for Manchester NH.


Perrin, who will conduct an hour-long discussion and talk, "How to See as an Artist" on August 17, is known best for both his Boston School of Painting style, and focus on lighting. His subjects vary, but never the skill, or the passion for capturing light. Graceful woman people genteel, moody settings, whether in light-drenched rooms, or softly colored gardens. He takes the same feel to his still lifes, florals, and landscapes, including his signature lily ponds.

"Dennis has quite a range. His figures are often decked out in white, and pale hues, with much of the room or setting a soft romantic note. On the other hand, while his works focused on lily pads also capture a romantic moment, they're executed in vivid jewel-like color."

Schnepf's work also freezes a scene, which like Perrin’s work seems somehow to breath. "There's nothing static about the work of these painters," says Bowersock.

Schnepf, a professor at the University of New Hampshire has painted or etched still life's for decades. Both will be on display. The dozens of objects in each canvas, blocks, vases, marbles, dice, paper cups, speak volumes about the people that left them sitting, stacked and scattered on a surface, waiting their return.

"People are never seen but always present in these richly colored works," says Bowersock. "You can always sense the human, their care not to jostle, or the movement that left the items in their current configuration. It's easy to read something into each object, its juxtaposition to another, then find the combination bouncing you back to start over again."

"His work is also simply beautiful to look at, the rich, yet muted colors, the light that dances through the work. He captures something special."

Schnepf has exhibited throughout the United States. His work is in numerous permanent collections including the Portland Museum of Art and the Library
of Congress.

"If I were to sum up this show it would be 'memorable.' These works somehow play on that border of beauty and melancholy that just captivates the imagination. It's a stunning show by three proven pros."

The Bowersock Gallery will also exhibit the work of its stable and guest artists in its salon studio. The Gallery represents over a dozen artists from the New Hampshire/Maine historically art-rich seacoast area. Work offered includes oils, watercolor, collage, multi-media, and blown glass. Sculpture is available in bronze, resin, mache and found objects.