Phoenix: Shade Gallery Presents Exhibition of Desert River Paintings by New York Artist Tony Winters

PHOENIX - April 3, 2016 - PRLog -- Shade Projects will present Desert Rivers/City River, the solo exhibition of New York artist Tony Winters. Desert Rivers/City River features visions of the magical landscape, part natural, part man-made, which makes up the Phoenix watershed.

From parched apocalypse to oasis garden city, debates over the future of America's west get louder each year, increasingly focused on the one subject that can't be ignored-water. Winters invites the viewer to marvel at the beautiful, yet fragile, Phoenix watershed, from its origins high in the Mogollon Rim to its destination in the Valley of the Sun. Winters says, "I believe people feel love and protectiveness for things they understand and find beautiful. This project intends to evoke that feeling toward the Phoenix watershed."

Winters is an award-winning landscape artist and Hudson River Fellowship recipient. A classically trained painter, he received his B.A. degree in Fine Arts from the University of the South, and was recipient of the John B. McCrady Award in the Fine Arts.  Further studies included Master of Architecture from the University of Texas at Austin, with continuing education at Harvard University Graduate School of Design, The Art Students League of New York and the New York Academy of Art. He has exhibited his paintings nationally and been featured in both online and print publications.

At the Opening Reception of Desert Rivers/City River on First Friday, June 3rd from 6-10pm, artist Tony Winters will give a talk on his recent work, and Shade Gallery will host innovators in the field of water resources, conservation and development, focusing on the future of Phoenix and its water landscapes.

The exhibition also serves to benefit a worthy downtown Phoenix institution: Genesis City, a charity that has empowered thousands of formerly disengaged, poverty level youth to access education and jobs since 1991.  A portion of the exhibition's sales will be donated to the school's Art Program.

This new collection of paintings presents the iconic water-landscapes surrounding Phoenix. The Agua Fria, Verde and Salt Rivers flow from the mountains into giant canyon reservoirs that rise and fall during the change of seasons. Below the dams, cattle graze beside reed-lined riverbeds. Diverted into earthen canals, the river water winds its way through the desert and through the city, welcoming joggers and bikers to travel with it, filling swimming pools and the fountains of resort hotels. The artist says, "During each stage of its journey the water animates a different landscape, and each has its own beauty."

When asked about his influences, the artist says, "My paintings are a combination of everything I've assimilated from not only art but also philosophy, and music-reading David Thoreau or Edward Abbey with The Grateful Dead on as background music, for example. Every painting comes out of a mix of life experiences."

Desert Rivers/City River will be on display in Shade Gallery at the monOrchid from June 3rd until June 26th, 2016.

The monOrchid is located at 214 E. Roosevelt Street in the heart of Phoenix's downtown Roosevelt Row Arts District. The building is open daily and the exhibition may be viewed during business hours. Please visit their website for more information at monorchid.com. For media inquiries or a private appointment to view this exhibition please contact Shade Projects Curator, Nicole Royse by phone at (602) 810-3449 or by email at nicoleroyse@gmail.com.

About the Artist

Tony Winters is a painter and architect living in New York City.  His website is: www.tonywintersfineart.com

For more information (including high-res images) contact: Contact: Helen Winters

helenwinters2@gmail.com (mailto:helenmitsios@gmail.com)

and www.tonywintersfineart.com

Contact: Helen Winters

by New York Artist Tony Winters