“Backgrounds in the Forefront” at PSA in Door County

“The Letter,” by William Schneider

The influence of portrait backgrounds in providing clues to a subject’s identity is the focus of an exhibition entitled, “Backgrounds in the Forefront,” on display from August 19 – 24 at Peninsula School of Art, located at 3900 County Road F in Fish Creek. A gallery talk with the artists will be held at the school on August 19 at 4 pm, just prior to the free public opening reception from 5 – 7 pm.

Eight notable oil and photographic portrait artists from throughout the United States will display their works. Placed alongside each piece will be the artist’s narrative regarding the process in selecting its background elements.

The featured artists include photographer Stephanie Bartz, of Milwaukee; Erwin Gebhard, award-winning photojournalist and former photo editor of the Milwaukee Journal; oil painter Frank Korb, also of Milwaukee; Ohio oil painter Stanka Kordic; Katie Musolff, recently the artist in residence at Milwaukee’s Pfister Hotel; pastel and oil portrait artist William Schneider, of Lakewood, Ill.; 2011 Door County Plein Air Festival featured artist, William A. Suys, Jr., of Washington Island; and internationally-recognized oil painter, Dawn Whitelaw, of Franklin, Tenn. Both Schneider and Whitelaw will be teaching workshops at Peninsula School of Art during the week prior to the opening of the exhibition.

Visitors to the gallery are able to broaden their understanding of the portrait genre on many levels – by viewing the works, reading the accompanying narratives and gaining a historical perspective with handout materials.

For more information email [email protected] or call 920.868.3455.