The Silverman Gallery of Bucks County Impressionist Art presents a collection of art from Lahaska, Pennsylvania-based artist Joseph Barrett in an exhibit continuing through Sunday, January 12.
Barrett has been with the gallery since its inception in 2011, and his paintings have attracted attention from collectors in the region and across the country. “Throughout the years, you may have spotted a Barrett painting in the Bucks County Design House, becoming a focal point of one of the lovely living rooms or bedrooms,” says gallery owner Rhonda Garland. “His work resonates in all sorts of settings, from traditional to modern.”
Earlier this year Barrett’s painting “Estate of Joseph Stanley” was chosen by the U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda as part of the State Department’s Art in Embassies program. Eric Kneedler, a Pennsylvania native stated that he and his wife Kristin selected the painting “because Joe Barrett is one of our favorite Impressionists and this painting radiates joy and optimism.”
Fellow Silverman Gallery artist Jennifer Hansen Rolli writes of Barrett’s work: “Eyes become flitting footsteps when laid upon a Barrett. There’s no stopping yourself from darting along colorful strokes of deep paint twisting through playful canals and rivers to curve over hillside. Wonder brings stillness at a window or door, then onward to climb a quirky pink tree in a forest beneath his lively skies. And then, just like that, my eyes want to dance all over again. Whether it’s the first or the 100th time looking into one of Barrett’s paintings, the old friend is always there, beckoning to take a step inside.”
Born in 1936, Joseph Barrett opened his Lahaska studio more than 50 years ago. Cheerful, colorful, and whimsical are words often used to describe his luscious oil paintings done with bold brushwork and presented in his signature frames. An avid art collector of paintings throughout his life, he is a fan of iconic Bucks County Harer and Badura frames. Wanting his paintings to have a unique look, he designed his gold etched frames to continue the tradition of Bucks County frame-making.
Silverman Gallery, Buckingham Green Shopping Center, Route 202, Hollicong, Pennsylvania. Open Wednesdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. as well as by appointment. www.silvermangallery.com or 215-794-4300.
