The art of “The Country Way”

By Morgan Hensley

What does “the country way” mean? For me, the phrase conjures images of rolling hills, grazing horses and the sight and sound of a pack of hounds traversing a field. But that’s just me. We all conceive of “the country way” in different ways. Those feelings, associations and connotations are captured in an upcoming exhibit at the Byrne Gallery, “The Country Way,” which runs from Feb. 1–25.

For the fourth year in a row, the Byrne Gallery kicks off their gallery season by joining forces with the Middleburg Arts Council to host a monthlong celebration of local artists and their contributions to the community. Past years’ themes included “Sunrise/Sunset,” “Main Street,” and “Cabin Fever,” all of which evoked an aspect of life in Middleburg. “This year we basically wanted to celebrate the beautiful, peaceful, rural lifestyle. Artists love this area for that very serenity. Everyone here loves it. Why not share it?” says Peter Wood, Chair of the Middleburg Arts Council, a volunteer committee dedicated to creating opportunities and fostering a vibrant community for artists.

The upcoming exhibit consists of 40 works by 29 local artists. “We didn’t want the exhibit to be too narrow. We’d rather have one or two pieces from many artists to show that Middleburg isn’t made up of only two or three well-known artists,” Wood says.

“This way is more encouraging; it shows that there is an artistic community, and that’s important for giving artists inspiration and hope,” Susan Byrne adds. This exhibit is well-balanced: many of the artists are gallery veterans, while others are having their art displayed publicly for the first time. To further encompass the artistic diversity of the region, sculptures are featured alongside paintings this year, an inclusion certainly to the liking of Wood, a sculptor of free-flowing, abstract pieces. In the same vein, there is a variety of sizes and costs to convey the breadth of the Middleburg area’s art community. “The pieces are well-priced, not stratospheric,” says Bill Byrne. “And there are all kinds of sizes, not just 30” x 30” works, more accents than focal points. The little pieces work for the larger ones.”

“February can be a cold month, so this is a great reason to gather together and brighten the winter a little.”
-Susan Byrne

The variety and diversity are fundamental aspects of the exhibit’s theme, as juror Robin Hill notes, “The country way means so many different things to so many people. To someone from the mountains of Wyoming it means something very different. There’s a real, wonderful, amazing variety in interpreting it as a concept for a show; you don’t want too much overlap of ideas or subjects. This theme opens up almost uncountable viewpoints.”

Hill’s five-decade painting career has earned many accolades, particularly for his bird paintings. He was trained at the Wimbledon School of Art in England as well as the National Gallery of Victoria Art School and the Royal Melbourne College in Australia. This is his second year as a juror with the Byrne Gallery, and his lifetime of artistry contributes to his critical evaluation. As a juror, he provides a discerning eye for technique and tone as well as those intangible, ephemeral qualities of artwork, as he calls them, “those other criteria: imagination, originality, a balance of inventiveness and adventure—the nerve and guts of the painter—against talent and technique. Some of the works were so wonderfully unexpected.”

Byrne Gallery, now in its 21st season, is run by siblings Bill and Susan. The two are united not just by blood, but by their shared vision, passion and dedication to art. Their gallery is diverse and contemporary: “We’re not just equine or wildlife art, no one particular focus like that. We like broad brushstrokes,” Susan says, pun fully intended. “We’re doing things we’ve never done before.”

The two recount a nearly heroic tale about moving a painting to me. While progressing through the story—which involves cranes, skyscrapers, blockaded streets, the fire department, and some cunning on their behalf—they finish each others sentences, interject, and correct one another like any brother and sister. “People think you’d go crazy owning an art gallery with your sibling,” Susan begins before Bill adds, “but it works for us.”

“The Country Way” opens Feb. 1, with an opening reception the following Saturday (Feb. 4), which includes beverages, a chance to mingle with the artists, and an introductory lecture from Robin Hill. “We’re expecting up to 100 people to come to the reception,” Susan says. “February can be a cold month, so this is a great reason to gather together and brighten the winter a little.” ML