Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012

See the Piedmont through ancient eyes

North Carolina artist shows new landscapes at museum gallery this First Friday

When artist Beverly Dickson paints the Piedmont, she sees past the recent development and population explosion to the ancient aspects of the landscape.

“It’s primal,” Dickson said. “A lot of the images look like emerging worlds.”

Dickson’s ancient vision of North Carolina will line the walls of the Nature Art Gallery at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences starting at this month’s First Friday art event downtown. As galleries around town stay open late, Dickson will be at the museum to answer questions about her nature-based work.

Often, the North Carolina artist’s ghostly trees float into the frame from pale fog lit by soft pastels. The effect varies from gentle and ethereal to eerie. Many are captured from early morning boat trips on Baden Lake on the edge of Uwharrie National Forest between Raleigh and Charlotte.

Dickson’s images reveal a strong connection to the natural world, gallery curator Karen Bethune said.

“These images she’s creating represent an emotional state or state of consciousness she’s experiencing that resonates with her,” Bethune said.

Dickson has lived around the world with her husband, Chad Dickson, a banker. Each place they lived, from Luxembourg to Japan, Dickson immersed herself in the area’s unique landscape.

So when they moved to Troy in 2003, Dickson began to paint. In her last Raleigh show at the Bickett Gallery in 2007, Dickson explored the North Carolina coast. For this show, she focused closer to home, on the Piedmont.

“I’m more in love with North Carolina now because of being awakened to that ancient quality,” Dickson said.

After her Piedmont series, Dickson plans to explore the state’s wetlands by kayak for more inspiration.

“When you learn about these things, you can’t help but be in awe and want to know more,” Dickson said.