Perry and Norris-Brown artwork on display

The art of Springfield's Gil Perry and the writing and illustrating of Charles Norris-Brown will be on display at Main Street Arts in Saxtons River from May 1 to June 16 in a show titled “Distant Thunder.” An opening reception to meet the artists will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 4.


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Charles Norris-Brown (left) and Gil Perry

2017-05-04 / Arts & Entertainment Perry and Norris-Brown artwork on display Shown is a painting by Gil Perry. The art of Perry and the writing and illustrating of Charles Norris-Brown will be on display at Main Street Arts from May 1 to June 16 in a show titled “Distant Thunder.” Shown is a painting by Gil Perry. The art of Perry and the writing and illustrating of Charles Norris-Brown will be on display at Main Street Arts from May 1 to June 16 in a show titled “Distant Thunder.” SAXTONS RIVER — The art of Gil Perry and the writing and illustrating of Charles Norris-Brown will be on display at Main Street Arts from May 1 to June 16 in a show titled “Distant Thunder.” An opening reception to meet the artists will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 4. Perry’s paintings reflect his interest in capturing the variations of light in nature. “For the past 27 years, I have been working in the landscape tradition of painting in the open air, exploring new ways to express the poetry of light through the changing seasons,” he said. “Through my drawings and paintings, I hope to awaken the imagination, an emotion, or sense of wonder in the viewer. Whether it be a black and white imaginary drawing or a landscape in oils, the creative process is a continual joy for me.” A native of Connecticut, Perry studied art at the New England School of Art, the Rhode Island School of Design, the University of Massachusetts/Amherst and Colby Sawyer College. His early work was on drawing in black and white until he was introduced to painting principles of American impressionist Frank Vincent DuMond. Norris-Brown describes himself as a “dishwasher, bus driver, teacher, theoretician and artist” who eventually became an anthropologist in India, Borneo, Canada and Appalachia, where his work focused on small communities living in and dependent on forests. Villagers in the terai region of India recommended that he combine his art, anthropology and concern for the environment and focus on writing and illustrating children’s books. After completing an on-line course with the Institute of Children’s Literature in 2005, he went to the terai region of Nepal and eventually developed what would become his first children’s book, "Did Tiger Take the Rain?" which was published last fall by Green Writers Press. The Main Street Arts Gallery is made possible by a gift of the Windham Foundation and hosts on-going exhibits of the work of individual artists and groups. Further information is available by contacting MSA at (802) 869-2960 or online at www.mainstreetarts.org.