A View From The Froelick Gallery.

By now Portland baby boomers understand the meaning of an invitation.

It’s a give and take thing.

If someone invites you to attend their Easter church service you don’t expect Jesus to show up.

But He does.

If you invite someone to watch a sporting event, you don’t expect them to show up in uniform.

The careful planner makes sure you both like the same teams in case it does happen.

What do you expect when you get an invitation to an artist’s show?

If it’s a Laura Ross-Paul show at the Froelick Gallery on NW Davis off Broadway the night before First Thursday?

Brace yourself. You’re about to enter a world you haven’t seen before.

Who asks for more?

Boomerpdx posted an idea recently asking you to find your favorite artist’s views in your town. Edward Hopper was first in line.

After seeing Ross-Paul’s ‘Trees as Figure Monotypes’ the woods called. What’s more Oregon than the forest?

Through the lens of an accomplished artist, the familiar becomes new. Your trees are their trees and in a city like Portland you’re never too far away.

From this, the lights of Broadway streaming by at night:

 To this:

When you see an artist’s work making connections you can’t imagine yourself, pay attention. They’re speaking to you.

When their vision pulls you out on one of the coldest nights of the year, and you end up feeling the warmth of that view, you have a choice.

One gallery owner explained that buying art isn’t a good investment. Those art fans, the investors, understand the volatility of the market and gather pieces for their own storage unit instead of their wall or plinth.

He continued by saying art opens doors you haven’t seen before, a door unlocked by the art piece in front of you. You find a way to buy the work so you can keep the door open.

Another choice is acting on inspiration. Artwork that inspires you to find your own vision makes you a better person. It puts you on a pathway of discovery where you find hidden secrets you thought you left behind years ago.

It’s a perfect boomer storm. Art engages your senses, moves you to act, and leaves you ready for more.

Laura Ross-Paul makes the kind of art that creates a need in a viewer. A need for what? A need to keep your own eyes open and your mind engaged. A need to see what she sees and make it your own.

While you contemplate your choices, hit this to see a post from a previous show. While you’re here, click on the ‘Show Trailer.’ It’s a powerful video blast of art forms linking together and standing alone.

If you have an event that needs video, drop a line to louiepaulrcmp@gmail.com.

Here’s an image inspired by Laura Ross-Paul a couple of days after seeing her exhibit at the Froelick Gallery.