YAQUINA RIVER MUSEUM OF ART

One of the many eyecatching features of the show is “Village Life in Colombia” painted by Juan B Toro in 1975.

Toro’s painting was purchased by Judy Ross Gibbons in the 70’s in Bogota at the annual benefit art show hosted by St. Alban’s Episcopal Church for patients hospitalized with Hansen’s Disease (more commonly known as leprosy). She never met the artist.  Looking at this painting, one gets the sense of a South American Grandma Moses style piece as Juan Toro depicts figures ranging in size from giant to miniature going about their business in an active village.  From the corrupted general mayhem in the bottom quadrant of the canvas to the sublime depiction of a Mass at a church service at the top under the vigilant eye of the Virgin Mary statue on a mountain peak; the artist has made a work of art from his memory that portrays experience while living within a community somewhere in Colombia in the past.

Pauline Morrison, Deacon in the Episcopal Church, Chaplain for Samaritan Hospitals in Newport and Lincoln City, Oregon, and Board Member of the Yaquina River Museum of Art, will give a talk about the Icon , “The Venerable Lady of Korsun”, written by the Grace of God, through the unworthy hands of His servant, Sherry Lynch; Iconographer (retired) from Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Portland, which is now part of Morrison’s personal collection. She will give her insight about the Icon and history of the writer.  Rev. Morrison will speak as part of the program beginning at 1:30pm on Saturday January 6th at the School House Exhibition space.