Mon, 07/27/2020 - 04:14 pm

Karen Swartsberg

Never before exhibited paintings by John Vander in a new show at Gold/Smith Gallery in Boothbay Harbor. Courtesy of the gallery

John Vander - in “MALI” exhibition July 30 - Sept. 2 at Gold/Smith Gallery in Boothbay Harbor. Courtesy of the gallery

This painting is among the never before shown works of John Vander at Gold/Smith Gallery, Boothbay Harbor. Courtesy of the gallery

Never before exhibited paintings by John Vander in a new show at Gold/Smith Gallery in Boothbay Harbor. Courtesy of the gallery

John Vander - in “MALI” exhibition July 30 - Sept. 2 at Gold/Smith Gallery in Boothbay Harbor. Courtesy of the gallery

This painting is among the never before shown works of John Vander at Gold/Smith Gallery, Boothbay Harbor. Courtesy of the gallery

Beginning July 30 and continuing until Sept. 2 the new series”MALI,”paintings by John Vander will be exhibited at Gold/Smith Gallery in Boothbay Harbor.

“Mali, West Africa was my first experience of the absolute exotic,” said Vander. “Every time I turned my head I saw something not only that I had never seen before, but that I had never seen like before."

The result was in his brief visit to Mali and Dogon Country he filled 30 sketch books with quick impressions, sometimes no more than a scribble, but an aid to memory. In the months and years that followed he worked on a grand series of paintings based on his experience.

Other paintings from this series have been shown at The Museum of African Art in Portland, Maine and Gold/Smith Gallery in Boothbay Harbor.

“I actually made more than I could show and I discovered the experience was so rich I would keep coming back to the theme to painting more pieces” Vander said. “Most of the paintings have never been shown before. I am not a student of African culture and art although I have a lot of interest in them. These are my sincere personal impressions.”

Gold/Smith Gallery, 8 McKown St., Boothbay Harbor is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. The Gallery can be reached at 207-633-6252 and goldsmithgallerybbh@gmail.com.