The Anne Loucks Gallery in Glencoe exhibits two Midwestern artists’ simple, elegant oil landscapes. Douglass Freed gleams inspiration from the rural landscapes and urban architecture of central Missouri and from pictures he takes on his international journeys. The resulting location and time of day of Freed’s landscapes are often indistinguishable, and seem to be a culmination of several places and times. Adding to this effect is the insertion of a second panel in his works—dividing the canvas in half or sectioning off one end. The second panel is representative of a void space where remnants of the original landscape appear in a different light—as if the same scene is depicted from the view of the artists two weeks later at dusk or in the night.
Leslie Wu exhibits misty oil scenes of people in boats, fall foliage and lakes. Wu’s paintings at first seem to have an Asian influence (not her nationality) but upon closer examination the scenes could be found in anywhere-America, as well. Like Freed’s paintings, Wu’s show no recognizable time or place, which adds a bit of intrigue, and perhaps helps both artists connect to wide audiences. The “Two Views” exhibit shows a sampling of both artists’ best work. (Rachel Turney)
