Emerging Artists – People, Places, and Things
Patrick Tallarico, Marie Spilman, Jen Cruz, Karen Shapero Jones, and Tim Sanders
This exhibition features a compelling collection of paintings from five emerging artists studying under Renee Balfour at Charlottesville’s McGuffey Art Center. While some of the artists have been featured in previous shows, this exhibit at Unitarian-Universalist marks an exciting public debut for others.
Bound by the theme of enduring memory, the collection captures fleeting moments in time—people, places, and things that stay with us long after they pass. From a warm summer night lit by fireflies and the weathered beauty of disappearing farmland, to the energy of a first trip to a big city or familiar scenes viewed from a fresh perspective, these diverse works invite viewers to find their own stories and connections within the paintings.
Patrick M. Tallarico
I have followed a winding path to an art-centered life, which draws on the full breadth of my experiences to shape my current work in oil. I am inspired to paint disappearing things – things that, if not captured, will fade away. Whether it is an old barn, an abandoned factory, or a once-grand hotel, I create images that reflect the feeling of a place in real or imagined settings. With a background in building and design, I bring a structural sensibility to my paintings, revealing the inherent beauty of the built environment. My work often merges architectural forms with natural landscapes, reflecting my deep respect for design and love of the environment.
I am pleased to have exhibited and sold work at juried shows and gallery spaces in Virginia, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Find out more at https://pmtcd.com/art or reach out to art@uucharlottesville.org for inquiries on these paintings.
Approaching Storm
Oil on Board, 26”Hx32”W, Framed, $120
White Barn
Oil on Board, 26”Hx32”W, Framed, $1200
Final Days of Fall
Oil on Board, 20”Hx26”W, Framed, $950
South Beach Sunset
Oil on Board, 32”Hx26”W, Framed, $1600
Fireflies 1
Oil on Board, 24”Hx30”W, $1200
Port of Call
Oil on Board, 12”Hx16”W, $650
Marie Spilman
I began oil painting several years ago as a hobby. Through the years I have gravitated toward painting subjects such as old cars, trucks and campers that are nostalgic. Painting allows you to take yourself to another place and time that can bring back a memory of a place or experience even if that is in your own town or backyard.
For more information or to purchase a painting, please reach out to art@uucharlottesville.org.
Evening Snow
Oil on canvas, 14”Hx11”W, unframed $350
Tinned Fish
Oil on Canvas, 12”Hx12”W unframed $500
Her Dad’s Blue Truck
Oil on Canvas, 11”Hx14”W, Not for Sale
Pink Building
Oil on Canvas, 40”Hx30”W unframed, $1300
Modern Pastry
Oil on Canvas, 16”Hx14”W, unframed, $700
Jen Cruz
I have dedicated my career to helping the environment. In recent years, this passion has taken on a new medium – oil painting. I produce work that highlights elements of the environment that are often overlooked and present them in ways that make you take notice. My current work focuses on unique perspectives on agave plants of the Sonoran Desert.
For more information or to purchase a painting, please reach out to art@uucharlottesville.org
Green Agave
Oil on Canvas, 40”Hx30”W, Unframed, $6,000
Agave Death Bloom
Oil on Canvas, 48”Hx36”W, Unframed, $7,500
Agaves on Red
Oil on Canvas, 48”Hx36”W, Unframed, NFS
Karen Shapero Jones
I am an emerging artist who began painting during the COVID-19 pandemic. I have been a resident of Charlottesville since 1993. Initially inspired to create portraits, I have expanded my practice over the past few years to include landscapes and cityscapes. My work reflects a growing passion for capturing diverse scenes and human expressions.
For more information or to purchase a painting, please reach out to art@uucharlottesville.org
Lakeside Stillness
Acrylic on Canvas, Framed, 22”H x 22”W, $379
Under the Marquee
Acrylic on Canvas, Framed, 27”H x 20”W, $425
Ruminating
Acrylic on Canvas, Unframed, 24”Hx18”W, $ 379
Whispering Waters
Acrylic on Canvas, Framed, 14.5”Hx11.5”W, $249
A Walk Into Autumn
Acrylic on Canvas, Framed, 20”H x16”W, $ 349
Tim Sanders
I first developed a love of painting as a young teenager, creating a handful of acrylic paintings that display the realism of life around me. 50 years later, while visiting Tuscany, Italy, I picked up a paintbrush again in a plein air art class, rekindling my desire to paint. The past 3 years, I have worked to capture my interpretation of beautiful landscapes from some of my most memorable travel experiences: a trout stream in Wyoming, the redwoods of California, the majestic Grand Tetons, and a waterfall closer to home in Shenandoah National Park to name a few. I have also explored the beauty and energy of cityscapes through many trips to New York City. In my paintings, my focus is to capture the interaction of light with various colors and textures of nature, whether early morning light on the mountaintops, afternoon sunbeams filtering through the trees or the bright blue sky reflecting off a rushing river. Art is most meaningful to me when it evokes and recreates memories of a special place or event spent with friends and family.
This is my first art exhibition, and I hope to continue creating and exhibiting art for many years to come. For more information, please reach out to art@uucharlottesville.org
Redwood
Oil on Canvas, 26”Hx20”W, NFS
Around the bend- Big Horn National Forest
Oil on Canvas, 22”Hx18”W, NFS
Mormon Row Barn Grand Tetons
Oil on Canvas, 26 ½”Hx38 ½”W, NFS
DUMBO
Oil on Canvas, 26”Hx19 ½”W, NFS
Hiker’s reward- Doyles River Falls, Shenandoah National Park
Oil on Canvas, 21 ½”Hx17 ½”W, NFS
