FOUNDRY GALLERY: "Changes" - Ron Riley

OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, August 5, from 6 - 8pm
LOCATION: 1314 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
HOURS: Wednesday - Friday 1 - 7pm: Saturday & Sunday 12 - 6pm
EXHIBIT DATES: August 3 - August 28, 2011

In these recent paintings inspired by one of the natural beauties of our planet, clouds, and the vast variety of shapes and forms that they take on, Riley has used them to express his fascination with the constant changes that occur in our lives, some of which we can exert some degree of control over, while with others, such is not the case. Riley sees his paintings as something of metaphors to represent that we can be the sole arbiter of how a painting evolves and changes during the process of creating it, while at other times the painting seems to take on a life of its own and directs Riley’s hand towards its final outcome telling him when it is complete and no further work is necessary. One’s life is in many ways similar. Often we can make plans in terms of the direction we would like our lives to take, remembering always that life is in many ways all about change over which we can exercise some degree of control and at other times exert little or none at all. Accepting change is often not a simple task but it is something that at times we must simply accept.

Riley graduated from American University with a degree in fine arts and taught art in the Montgomery County Public School System in Maryland for many years while also pursuing his personal career as an artist. He is a member of the Foundry Gallery which is the oldest cooperative gallery in Washington, DC. He is also a member of Mid City Artists which consists primarily of artists who have studios located for the most part along the 14^th Street corridor in Northwest, Washington, DC. Riley’s work is displayed in private homes in the U.S. and Europe.

Riley’s new show of recent works, “Changes”, will be on view at the innovative Foundry Gallery in Washington, DC from August 3 through August 28, 2011. Foundry Gallery is located at 1314 18^th Street, NW and is open Wednesday through Friday, 1 – 7pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 12 – 6pm. The opening reception is Friday, August 5^th from 6 to 8pm. Additional works by Riley can be viewed on his website www.rcrart.com .