Saint Stephen’s Presents: “Landscapes of the South”

The Saint Stephen’s Art Committee is pleased to present the work of Betsy Brackin Burch that will be on display in the Gathering Space and the hallway that connects the Nave during the month of April. An opening reception will take place in the Gathering Space at 3pm on Sunday, March 29.  Betsy is a Delta-born artist whose work is deeply tied to the places she's lived. From the banks of the Mississippi to the farms, fish frys, and juke joints that run along it, Betsy's landscapes are imbued with the rich culture of the region. Trained from the age of 7, she received her BFA from the Memphis College of Art. While commissions have taken her as far as Greece, she has also shown extensively throughout the Delta, including such notable venues as the Arkansas Governor's Mansion.

Betsy shares, “For the past ten years I have been drawn to the Delta time and time again.  The distinctive scent of the muddy gumbo, the thick humid air permeating through the cotton fields, and the cypress grooves always lure me back home.  Also, there is nothing like standing on the edge of a field at sunset and hearing cicadas.  Their sound is so loud it vibrates your eardrums.

In these paintings I have experimented with different colors and compositions.  My warm auburn reds and purples reveal an emotional heavy history that constantly lingers in the south.  I try to turn the dark history of the Delta on its head by using the softer color palettes found in Arkansas Soybeans.  With this use of color you can start to see the subtle beauty present despite the dark history.

My inner perception of what these landscapes look like is my way of sharing how I experience the world.”

Please join us for the opening reception or visit the Gathering Space throughout the month of April.