In 1825 Thomas Cole, renowned American artist and early environmentalist was angered by the destruction of the area’s beauty by development. He wrote, “ I cannot but express my sorrow that the beauty of such landscapes are quickly passing away – the ravages of the axe are daily increasing- the most noble scenes are made desolate and oftentimes with the wantonness and barbarism scarcely credible in a civilized nations.” Today our landscapes continue to change and disappear.

See the landscape and feel the beauty of the scene. Time stands still and we can enjoy the moment. The presented works show beauty through images and express the feelings of the artists depicting the beauty of nature and the need to preserve the landscape. The paintings show the relationship between the artist and the land.  These artists paint beauty in different ways and allow us to share our emotions, and desires. They capture the landscapes of California, Louisiana, New Mexico, France, Spain, Italy and other places. 

Stefen Lokos creates abstract landscapes using bold blocks of color with light and dark shades. Perhaps Lokos was influenced by the famous French Impressionists who made landscape painting a means for a revolution in modern art and changed the tradition of painting landscapes. Plein air painting is about leaving the studio behind and experiencing painting and drawing in the landscape. The creation of transportable paint tubes and the box easel allowed artists the freedom to paint "en plein air."

The beauty of what Norman Lloyd sees and the joy of the moment serve as his inspiration.  His memories of the sunlit landscape of his native land of Australia are represented in the atmosphere and nature of his landscapes.  Lloyd's love for France, Italy, Spain, Turkey and Morocco, inspired joyful land, sea and mountain scapes, in a style that evoked impressionism.  Lloyd was a prolific painter who was able to paint fast, preferring textural oil and pastels.

Jean Messagier a French painter, sculptor, printmaker and poet adds a bit of satire and comedy by giving the title of “Nose” to the orange and yellowed hued mountain. He also was influenced by Impressionism.

William Higgins paints with a bright palette and captures the atmospheric changes, and the rapid movement of sunlight on the landscape. The various shades of blue and white paint show the atmosphere and movement of the clouds.

During World War II, Peter Hurd worked for Life magazine as a war correspondent attached to the US Air Force. He created hundreds of "War Sketches" and experienced the disasters of war.

Hurd’s work is strongly associated with the people and landscapes of San Patricio, New Mexico, where he lived from the 1930s. He paints an evoking sunset in Sunset through Dusk.  Hurd studied in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania under the noted illustrator N.C. Wyeth. Hurd later married the painter's eldest daughter, Henriette Wyeth, who also was an accomplished painter and sister of noted realist artist Andrew Wyeth.

Bob Stuth-Wade’71 paints a single Iris selecting a single image of beauty in a landscape.

Walter Chappell was an American photographer and poet, primarily known for his black and white photography of landscapes, and nature depicts a single flower.          

Beauty is also reflected in the art of diverse cultures in the Chokwe mask and the Pre Columbian ceramics. Painters have been and continue to be inspired by nature.

Artists included in the exhibition are Walter Chappell, Alan Feltus, William Higgins, Peter Hurd, May Kugler, Norman Lloyd, Stefan Lokos, and Bob Stuth-Wade ’71.