Art du Jour’s July 2018 Exhibits

During the month of July Ginny Matheson will be the featured artist at Art du Jour Gallery, and Judy Benson LeNier’s work will continue to be featured in the Salon till the end of the month.  In addition, Cheryl Magellen will be bringing her poplular Selfie Show to Medford.  On third Friday music will be provided by the Minstrel Streams.

Featured Artist Ginny Matheson

As the featured artist for the month of June at Art Du Jour Gallery, Ginny Matheson presents’’a body of work themed “Mixed Media Landscapes”.

Mont Blanc by Ginny Matheson. -Submitted by the artist

Ginny lives and works in Southern Oregon, but her earliest art training was in Michigan where she worked primarily in stone and wood carving. After moving to Indiana, Ginny began to focus on two-dimensional media and took more training in drawing, painting, and collage. By 2004 she had begun to exhibit her work at art festivals across the Midwest. Upon her arrival in Oregon soon thereafter she began exhibiting at art festivals, galleries, and restaurants across Oregon.  Her work often focuses on the breathtaking scenery of the Pacific Northwest and also includes still life, abstracts and figurative pieces.

Guest Artist Judy Benson LaNier

A professional photographer who specializes in photographing wildlife. Judy’s love of Africa began in 1961 when her family hosted an exchange student from South Africa. The bond continued through the years as the two families visited each other in Africa and the U.S.A.. For her the magnetism of Africa is strong and Judy has returned eight times. Her range of photography has expanded to include North American and Hawaiian Flora and Fauna as well as landscapes.

Photography by Judy Benson LaNier

Judy Benson LaNier writes, ““When I first went to Africa I was amazed that the animals ignored us completely. They went about their business as if nothing extraordinary was happening. Little did they know that something quite extraordinary was happening inside me! I was experiencing a catharsis, a cleansing of my soul. I was being taught what is truly important in life and I was filled with joy by the lessons! I hope that my photographs bring you a taste of life in the Bush.”

 Her photographs capture the essence of the wildlife in amazing detail. For many years Judy led Photographic Safaris to countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, teaching photography and holding workshops for participants. Her Photographic work is currently represented in five art galleries in Oregon. Judy has published seven books of her photography, the latest being “Facing Lions”, which recounts an adventure she enjoyed in Africa.  

Cheryl Magellan’s Selfie Exhibit

Opening July 3 and running through July 28, Cheryl Magellen will have an exhibition of portrait paintings that were inspired by selfie photo submissions from around the world. Currently located in an area of Arizona where there is little opportunity to paint from models, Cheryl looked to social media and solicited friends to submit their favorite selfie photos to be made into paintings. She wanted to show that portraits can be more than just a smile and can show people really being themselves.

Cheryl Magellan’s Selfie Exhibit

Originally from Oregon, Cheryl received a BA in art from Chico State University and studied at the Southern Oregon Art Academy, and has been a long-time student of Gabriel Lipper of Ashland. She began teaching weekly classes at Central Art Supply in 2010 and continued to do so until her temporary relocation to southwestern Arizona in 2013. While in Arizona, she began taking workshops at the Scottsdale Artists’ School, continued teaching classes in the Phoenix area, and devotes most of her time to painting in her home studio. Her work has won numerous awards and has been accepted into regional and national shows.

Art du Jour will feature part of this two-gallery exhibition and will be the only gallery to also exhibit some of Cheryl’s paintings that were featured in national exhibitions. The gallery reception will be held during Medford’s Third Friday Artwalk on July 20.