Oct. 21, 2006 – Gallery St. Thomas will feature the paintings of Gregory Samuel in an exhibit entitled "Spirit of the Caribbean." This is the first exhibit of the season, and there will be a reception in honor of the artist held from 5-8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 27, at the gallery, No. 1 Main Street, Upper Level.
When Samuel came to St. Thomas in 1970 from his native island of Dominica, art had no influence in his life. On buying trips with his employer in the 1990's, however, his interest was sparked by the Impressionist paintings at the great museums in New York, France and Italy. Samuel especially liked the color work of Gauguin and Van Gogh. From museum tour guides he learned all he could about the principles of Impressionism. When he started experimenting on his own, friends soon recognized his talent and encouraged him.
The artist does not imitate the masters, however. His oil paintings bring the Caribbean world to life with originality and charm. Combining elements of folk culture, island architecture and his love of color, his unique vision captures the essence of island living.
"I've always had an appreciation for the beauty and intense colors of the landscapes and lifestyles of the Caribbean Islands" says Samuel. "I try to capture the easy-going, relaxed and free spirit of the island people. I like to paint old buildings that won't always be there as well as people doing old-time things, such as the drum dance of Belier that one rarely sees now."
"Samuel's work has a honest quality that charms people. People from all over the world have collected his paintings. What I particularly love is his ability to thoughtfully depict a spot that I may pass by every single day and never take the time to notice, until I have seen it in his painting," says gallery owner Claire Ochoa.
Now semi-retired, Gregory Samuel devotes his time to painting and traveling to other Caribbean islands and Brazil. The 25 recent works in this exhibit feature scenes of island life on Bermuda, Barbados, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Virgin Islands.
The exhibit will run through Nov. 2, and is open to the public. All work is for sale. For more information, contact Gallery St. Thomas at 777-6363 or online at www.GalleryStThomas.com.