The Spirit Pear

Based on a highly exaggerated view of reality, Wild Things by Milton artist Abby Zonies is a series of large-scale, raucous, colorful still lifes and landscapes. While rooted in traditional subject matter, the paintings often emerge more from the imagination than from observation, incorporating a deeply saturated personal color palette to invoke a romantic and modern sensibility. Wild Things will be on view in the Newton Free Library Gallery from January 5-28 with an opening reception on Wednesday, January 6 at 7:00 pm.

Zonies writes, “In this series of paintings, I have looked back at some of my favorite painters and have incorporated the aspects I admire most about their work, the intense color of the expressionists, the gesture of the abstract expressionists and the romantic sensuality of the Dutch still life painters. Color has emerged as the guiding sensibility of my work. By having looked backward I have moved my work forward.”

Abby Zonies has a BFA from Boston University and a MFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts / Tufts.  She currently teaches painting at the Museum School and in 1981 was the recipient of a Massachusetts Foundation Fellowship award. She won Best in Show at the Springfield Art League National Exhibition in 1992. Her work has been shown extensively in the New England area and is included in many private and corporate collections.

Gallery hours are Mon – Thurs from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm; Fri from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm; Sat from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sun from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. All programs are free and open to the public, parking is free.