visual art

The Mountain and Mother Nature

Ken Gagne and Matthew Gagne

"The Mountain and Mother Nature" is an exhibition of paintings by Ken Gagne and sculptures by his son, Matt Gagne. 

Reception: Saturday July 14, 5-8pm
MAP gallery in Eastworks
116 Pleasant Street Easthamtpon MA 01027

Exhibition runs July 5 - August 3, 2018
Gallery hours (for this show): Wed-Sun, 1-4pm

Contact: Ken Gagne: kgagne_53@charter.net

Anyone who lives in The Valley is familiar with “The Mountain” and has traveled over it, hiked it, or just stepped out their door to admire it. The MAP Gallery presents a father and son exhibit of oil pastels by Ken Gagne and sculptures by Matt Gagne creating an entertaining and thought provoking experience traveling over Mt. Tom witnessing Mother Nature’s power to create, destroy, and preserve the beauty of this local resource.

“Approximately 20,000 vehicles travel over the mountain every morning allowing passengers to appreciate the power of Mother Nature’s forces as seen by the destruction from the 2014 microburst and the regeneration that has followed,” states Ken. “Using the colorful Hindu Goddess Kali Ma as a model for Mother Nature I want to provide the viewer with a mystical reflection of The Mountain.” For example, in Gagne’s drawing measuring 48”x84“ titled “Mother Nature’s Destruction,” a blue skinned, eight armed Mother Nature is riding an Easthampton brown bear while surgically cutting a path of destruction one mile long and ¼ mile wide through the mountain.

“I am more interested in exploring the concepts of preservation and natural cycles,” states Matt Gagne. “Mother Nature created a natural balance where nature is best left to its own devices, and that human intervention into it is often unacceptable.” In Matt’s piece titled “Altered Decay” it depicts the deceased organic materials of flowers, and the ways in which human beings preserve, alter and display these once living treasures.
The Opening Reception on July 14 will also feature Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, Mt. Tom’s Homemade Ice Cream and Jacqueline T. Lynch- local author of “Comedy and Tragedy on the Mountain: 70 Years of Summer Theatre on Mt. Tom, Holyoke, Massachusetts.”

The MAP Gallery is located in the Eastworks Building at 116 Pleasant Street, Easthampton, MA 01027.