Justus Fine Art Gallery to host “Upon Closer Inspection”

The October exhibit at Justus Fine Art Gallery draws the focus of the viewer closer with a selection of paintings and drawings by Jeri Hillis, Dolores Justus, Sammy Peters, and Gary Simmons that depict an attention to detail. Sculptures and woodwork by Robyn Horn, Jill Kyong, Sandra Sell, and Gene Sparling will also be on display. The show will open with a reception from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5, in conjunction with the monthly Gallery Walk in downtown Hot Springs. The exhibit will be on display October 5-31, 2018.

Dolores Justus earned a B.A. in fine art from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1988 and has exhibited her work in solo and group shows throughout the nation and abroad for more than 30 years. A few highlights include: Line of Sight (solo exhibit) at the Degas Gallery in New Orleans, LA (2017); Finding Center (solo exhibit) at the Annesdale Park Gallery in Memphis, TN (2015); Migratory Patterns (solo exhibit) at the Malkin Gallery of the Bass Cultural Arts Center in Greenville, MS (2015); Coming Up for Air (solo exhibit) at the Catherine Kelleghan’s Gallery in Atlanta, GA (2009); Horizon Lines (solo exhibit) at the University of Arkansas Mullins Library in Fayetteville, AR (2005); Interwoven, a joint exhibition with sculptor Robyn Horn, at Greg Thompson Fine Art (2011-12);  Best of the South at Greg Thompson Fine Art (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018); the Arkansas Women in the Arts Exhibit in Washington, D.C. (2000-2001); the 43, 44, & 55 Delta Exhibition at the Arkansas Arts Center; and many others. Collections include: the Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, AR; the University of Arkansas, Health and Sciences Center, Fort Smith, AR; Iberia Bank, Little Rock, AR; the Alluvian Hotel, Greenwood, MS; Delta Trust Bank, Little Rock, AR; CASA Women’s Shelter, Pine Bluff, AR; Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR; CHI St. Vincent Hospital, Hot Springs, AR; CARTI, Little Rock; Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Little Rock; Arkansas Center for Health Sciences, Fort Smith, AR; and more.

Sammy Peters’ richly textured mixed media abstract paintings have been featured in numerous exhibitions throughout the nation including recent solo and two person shows at Mason Fine Art in Atlanta, Georgia (2018); the Butler Center Galleries at the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies in Little Rock, Arkansas (2017); LewAllen Contemporary Gallery in Santa Fe, NM  (2017); the University of Arkansas in Fort Smith, AR (2016); and more. Peters’ work has also be included in group exhibitions at Greg Thompson Fine Art in Little Rock, AR; the Arkansas Arts Center in Little Rock, AR; Kouros Gallery in New York, NY; Jay Etkin Gallery in Memphis, TN; Mason Fine Art in Atlanta, GA; Stremmel Gallery in Reno, NV; Gail Harvey Gallery in Santa Monica, CA; and many others. He was awarded the VSC Press Printmaking Fellowship in 2003, the Vermont Studio Center Fellowship in 2001, the MacDowell Fellowship in 2000, a M-AAA/NEA Fellowship in 1992, along with other awards and honors. Peters’ work has also been included in a host of public and private collections including the Arkansas Arts Center, Arkansas Technical College, The Entergy Corporation, Hendrix College, the estate of Winthrop Rockefeller, Baptist Rehabilitation, and many more.

Jeri Hillis earned a B.A. in Visual Arts from Hampshire College, Amherst, Massachusetts and a pursued graduate level work in printmaking at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Hillis’ mixed media works emphasize story and the landscape of memories. Her work has been included in a numerous exhibitions including the 53rd Annual Delta Exhibition at the Arkansas Art Center in Little Rock, the Arkansas Arts Council’s Small Works on Paper traveling exhibition, an exhibition at the Historic Arkansas Museum Trinity Gallery for Contemporary Artists in Little Rock; and others. In addition to her own work, Hillis currently teaches afterschool and adult classes in drawing, painting and ceramics at Emergent Arts in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Gary Simmons is a nationally recognized pen-and-ink artist known for his technical refinement and eclectic subject matter. He began pen-and-ink drawing as a science illustrator at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, while a student worker in the zoology department. After acquiring a B.A. and M.A. in English and American literature, he went on to acquire a doctorate in Instructional Systems Technology at Indiana University in Bloomington. He came to Arkansas for a position with the University of Arkansas, where he stayed until he began a career as a freelance artist in 1976.

He joined the faculty of the art department at Henderson State University in 1991 and retired professor emeritus in 2013. Simmons gained a reputation as a portrait artist, having drawn portraits of notables such as Racing’s Hall-of-Fame trainer, Jack Van Berg, President Bill Clinton, Frank Broyles, philanthropist Jane Ross, and producers/writers Harry Tomason and Linda Bloodworth. He has also pursued a variety of subject matter, including an extensive body of equine art, western art, the Greek Myth of Leda and the Swan, and a suite of work featuring gorillas in an effort to raise awareness of their plight. Simmons authored The Technical Pen: Techniques for Artists, published by New York’s Watson-Guptill Publishers in 1992 and picked up for redistribution by Echo Point Books in 2015. Simmons has also produced an instructional video titled, A Pen-and-Ink Demonstration by Gary Simmons. Along with his pen-and-ink work, Simmons is also well versed in a wide vareity of drawing media, as well as oil and watercolor painting, and sculpture. He has an extensive exhibition history and long list of both private and public collectors. Gary Simmons was honored with the Arkansas Arts Council’s Governor’s Art Award in 2001 for accomplishments as an Individual Artist.

Owned by artist Dolores Justus, Justus Fine Art Gallery offers a wide range of original art including sculpture, paintings, ceramics, photography, and more by recognized artists. Opening receptions are held in conjunction with the Hot Springs Gallery Walk held from 5-9 p.m. the first Friday of every month in downtown Hot Springs. Hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday or by appointment. Justus Fine Art Gallery is located at 827 A Central Avenue in Hot Springs, AR. For more information, call 501-321-2335 or visit online at justusfineart.com.