Discover Local Arts: Carin Wagner and Yvonne Parker

Palm Beach State College’s Art Gallery at Eissey Campus showcases works by Carin Wagner and Yvonne Parker in an exhibit, “The Nature of Impermanence,” from May 13 through September 5. The opening reception is at 5:30 p.m. May 13. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Carin Wagner

Wagner’s paintings allude to the cycles of life and that nature and individuals are in a constant state of evolution and renewal. “Most of us are going along in our little world and don’t understand how fragile our environment is or how to protect it,” said Wagner.

Wagner records small moments in nature in order to  share its peace. In her studio, she lays down many thin glazes of oil paint to create luminous deep surfaces on the canvas, to evoke the fragility of the natural world.

‘Shelter’ by Wagner, oil on canvas, 54 by 84 inches, $20,000

‘A Dead Trees Grow No New Leaves II’ by Wagner, oil on Canvas, 30 by30 inches, $6,500

“From a glade filled with ferns golden in the evening light to a tiny flower blazing with fleeting glory, as time went by I realized how fragile all of this beauty was and felt I needed to protect it. I decided to paint my favorite trees- some towering in the midst of a storm, others quiet in moonlight- in the hopes that they would arouse the same protective spirit in others.”

Yvonne Parker

Parker’s sculptures are about rediscovering elements of the past in order to create a vision of a more positive future. “Preserving time gone bye, by incorporating vintage or historic materials in my work, is my way of dealing with transformation and change,” she says.

“We live in a world of constant change, chaos, illness, disaster and loss. I want to create art to hold on to the beautiful memories of the past, while embracing the present and looking confident into the future.”

‘Celebration’ by Parker, mixed media 25 by 17 by 14 inches, $8,900

‘Price for Memories’ by Parker, mixed media 20 by 20 inches, $3,700

The exhibit takes place in partnership with the Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park. A percentage of proceeds from the sale of Wagner’s art will benefit the Friends’ environmental-education programs for underserved students. Sculptures, prints and large oil paintings will be on sale with prices ranging from $150 to $30,000. During the opening reception, the first 60 guests will receive black ironwood tree seedlings.

Summer gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The Art Gallery at Eissey Campus is located in the first floor of the BB building, 3160 PGA Blvd. For more information, call the gallery at 561-207-5015 or visit www.palmbeachstate.edu/artgallerypbg.