Award-Winning Painter Ralph Gilbert to Hold Exhibition at UNCA Feb. 8-26

Ralph Gilbert

"The Dream Life of Babies," a special exhibition featuring 12 oil paintings by award-winning Georgia artist Ralph Gilbert, will be on view at UNC Asheville's University Gallery Feb. 8-26. A slide presentation and talk by the artist will be given at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, in UNCA's Owen Hall room 202. The opening reception will follow in the gallery from 6:30-8:30 p.m. This is the seventh year that University Gallery, which usually hosts senior student shows, will offer an exhibition by a professional artist for the benefit of the campus and local community.

The series of paintings was inspired by Gilbert's daughter Leah. Shortly after finishing a mural project in Atlanta some four years ago, the artist became interested in painting his daughter, specifically depicting the movements and expressions that marked her dreams. As Gilbert developed the paintings, he had the opportunity to spend time in the Prado Museum in Madrid and to make drawings directly from the collection there. In the studio, the influence of Velasquez, Goya, Ribera and Titian resulted in direct and oblique references to these artists in many of "The Dream Life of Babies" paintings.

Gilbert is the associate director of the Georgia State University School of Art and Design. He has received numerous awards including an Atlanta Urban Design Commission Award, the Philip Hulitar Award at the 57th Annual Exhibition of Contemporary American Paintings and the James D. Phelan Art Award at the 1987 World Print Council. His solo exhibitions have been shown throughout the southeast and California. Gilbert's work will be exhibited in Los Angeles and Chicago later this year. He is represented by the Fay Gold Gallery in Atlanta.

"Dreamsite"

"The Dream Life of Babies" appears in collaboration with the Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 West State St., where Gilbert's "Music Series Drawings" will be on view through February 27. An opening reception for "Music Series Drawings" will be held from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10, at the BMCA. For more information, call BMCA at 828/669-0930.

University Gallery is located on the first floor of Owen Hall. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The exhibition, lecture and opening reception are free and open to the public.

For more information, call the UNCA Art Department at 828/251-6559.

Media Contacts:

• Robert Tynes, UNCA University Gallery Director and Associate Art Professor, 828/251-6880
• Jill Yarnall, UNCA Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526