For nearly a quarter of a century, Marc Castelli has been exhibiting his stunning watercolors of the workboats, watermen and historic log canoes of the Chesapeake at the Carla Massoni Gallery in Chestertown, Maryland. On the Scend his annual one –man exhibition opens on October 21st and continues through November 21. Collectors and friends will have the opportunity to attend the Collector’s Reception on Friday, October 21th from 6-8 pm.
For nearly a quarter of a century, Marc Castelli has been exhibiting his stunning watercolors of the workboats, watermen and historic log canoes of the Chesapeake at the Carla Massoni Gallery in Chestertown, Maryland. On the Scend his annual one –man exhibition opens on October 21st and continues through November 21. Collectors and friends will have the opportunity to attend the Collector’s Reception on Friday, October 21th from 6-8 pm.
The festivities continue with the annual Sultana Downrigging Weekend from October 28-30. Massoniart is proud to have been an event sponsor of this premier tall ship and wooden boat festival since its inception and in keeping with Downrigging tradition, Castelli will release the 15th in the Chesapeake Bay Log Canoe Print series. This year’s print “Screamin’/Persistence” is available exclusively at the Finishing Touch. The Gallery will host the Kent County Watermen’s Association for Fireworks & Oysters at our opening reception for Downrigging on Friday, October 28 and continue with an Open House during the Downrigging Weekend Festival. But wait – there’s still more – plan to stay in the party mood through Chestertown’s November First Friday Weekend – November 4-6th.
For Marc Castelli, the grace and beauty of function has led him to draw, photograph and paint deadrise workboats, exotic sailboats and handcrafted automobiles.
The wind-driven weather and light found on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries constantly moves him. When not at home in Chestertown, Maryland, he can be found with the watermen on workboats culling oysters, crabbing, or fishing fyke nets up secluded creeks. He works alongside the men through the year as they driftnet in the winter or work their pound nets from Spring through the Fall. In the summer he crews on racing log canoes, and throughout all these activities he quietly and unobtrusively shoots the photographs that will become his paintings.
Castelli is on the water over 100 days a year gathering material to paint. Forty years of crewing on racing sailboats, and twenty years actively participating on workboats has enabled him to get past the spectator view that represents the majority of marine and regional art. His experience removes him from these narrow genres and puts him squarely in the realm of contemporary art. Often people see a documentary aspect to Castelli’s work, and in doing so, lose sight of the constant inspiration and awe Castelli derives from his subject.
The potential for abstraction, still life, figurative, atmospherics and sharp focus vignette, may exist in all genres but for Marc it is the strongest when on the water. It is the light, as it moves on and in water and is then reflected back on the watermen and their boats that pull at him. Although he feels the same enthusiasm for simple sailing vessels, state of the art racing yachts, log canoes, deadrise workboats, Formula One and Le Mans cars, cross country eventing, working dogs, and hand built vintage automobiles.
This year his annual exhibition will feature over forty new watercolor paintings with a full range of subjects guaranteed to delight both collectors and those new to his work.
For additional information please contact Carla Massoni at 410-778-7330 or visit www.massoniart.com. To learn more about Sultana Downrigging Weekend visit www.sultanaeducation.org and the new Chesapeake Bay Log Canoe Print www.finishingtouchshop.com
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