Photography, portraits to share gallery walls
“People, places and things” might well be the slogan for the upcoming art exhibit at ASU Gammage: Bill Mast will show photographs from his world travels, and members of the Portrait Artists of Arizona will exhibit paintings and drawings of people.
The artworks will be on display March 8-April 5 in the Gammage galleries.
Mast, a Mesa resident, jokes that he started taking photos because he couldn’t read the notes he was making as he traveled. He earned a degree in social work and anthropology, and returned to his career as a social worker after serving in the military during the Vietnam War.
“But I always had a wanderlust,” he said, “so I resigned my job and sold my Porsche and bought a Pan-Am ticket around the world.
After his epic journey, Mast lived and worked in several foreign countries, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, traveling for long periods of time between human-resources and office-management jobs. He has visited and photographed in 126 countries, and many U.S. national parks.
Mast will exhibit photos from his journeys, some as large as 40 by 60 inches. He will greet guests during a reception at ASU Gammage from 2 to 4 p.m., March 14.
Portrait Artists of Arizona, founded in 2008, has more than 50 members dedicated to the support and encouragement of fine-art portraiture through education programs and events, art critique, work sessions and portrait exhibitions.
The show at ASU Gammage, “The Fine Art Portrait,” will include 31 works in oil, pastel, charcoal, watercolor and silverpoint by 24 members of the organization.
Showing their artwork will be Jack Adams, Sherri Aldawood, Dodie Ballantine, SuSann Decker, Elena Eros, Linda Fox, Jim Garrison, Patti Georgas, Mona Gilstrap, Linda Halabe, Candace Hazar, Pamela Jonas, Stefko Kolomejac, Charles McCarver, Penny McElhaney, Deloss McWilliams, Sandy Merritt, Rusty Parenteau, Chris Saper, Jean Smith, Bruce Stam, Katie Stearns, Dorothy Stewart and Rosalie Vaccaro.
The show will be judged for cash awards and ribbons by Tony Pro, a nationally known portrait artist and instructor from California.
Exhibit hours at ASU Gammage are 1-4 p.m., Mondays, or by appointment. Due to rehearsals, event set-up, performances, special events and holidays, it is advisable to call (480) 965-6912 to ensure viewing hours, since they are subject to cancellation without notice.
Visitor parking is available at meters around the perimeter of Gammage, and entrance is through the East Lobby Doors at the Box Office. For more information about the exhibit, contact Brad Myers at (480) 965-6912, or brad.myers@asu.edu.