Stephen Brayfield: Slightly disturbing watercolor paintings with mildly irrational ramblings by Tonya Wunder
November 6-24, 2020
Stephen Brayfield: Slightly disturbing watercolor paintings with mildly irrational ramblings by Tonya Wunder
Opening reception: Friday, November 6, 5:00-8:00 PM
Gallery hours: Monday-Friday 9 AM – 5 PM
Please note, the Emporium will be closed Wed-Fri Nov 25-27 for the holidays.
In this second collaboration Tonya Wunder and Stephen Brayfield explore darker themes through a kind of eccentric, personal mythology.
At times Tonya will provide poetic captions for my original paintings. Conversely, I am inspired to paint by something she reads to me. It is not always a smooth and painless process. In this group I experiment with a different presentation of my watercolors. Departing from the traditional mat, frame and glass I mount them on cradled panels and seal them with cold wax medium.
Stephen Brayfield
While I respect the more traditional subject matter of landscape/still life associated with watercolor, I prefer art with a narrative using portrait and figure as a springboard. My earlier work was influenced by surrealism but I have since merged this with an Americana element that I refer to as “southern gothic”.
Tonya Wunder
I enjoy various streams of poetry, but it was Emily Dickinson who gave me the courage to discard rules and Andre Breton’s automatism that gave me the freedom to ramble nonsensically.
“He’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” Emily Brontë
EXHIBITIONS Tonya Wade Wunder
2020 Knoxville Photo Juried Exhibition, Knoxville, TN
Best Still Life award
2020 Member’s Show, The Emporium Center, Knoxville, TN
2019 Knoxville Photo Juried Exhibition, Knoxville, TN
2019 Member’s Show, The Emporium Center, Knoxville, TN
2018 Southern Gothic with poems by Tonya Wade. The Emporium Center Knoxville, TN
Stephen Brayfield Vita:
EDUCATION
Northeastern Illinois University 1994
BA cum laude, Studio Art. Minor in Earth Science.
Full Scholarship recipient. Art club vice president. Gallery manager
Columbia College 1991
Concentration in advertising art and creative writing
American Academy of Art 1986-1989
Concentration in fine art and illustration
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago 1981-1982
Concentration in drawing, printmaking and scientific illustration Internship with Field Museum of Natural History Exhibits department.
EXHIBITIONS
2018 Artsclamation! Knoxville, TN
2018 Southern Gothic with poems by Tonya Wade. The Emporium Center Knoxville, TN 2017 Artsclamation! Knoxville, TN
2016 39th Annual Southern Watercolor Society Juried Exhibition. Columbia TN
2015 Dogwood Arts Juried Exhibition. Knoxville, TN
2014 Then And Now Exhibition Knoxville Art and Culture Alliance.
2013 36th Annual Southern Watercolor Society Juried Exhibition. Quincy, FL
2012 35th Annual Southern Watercolor Society Juried Exhibition. Sautee Nacoochee, GA
2011 Group exhibition on The Balcony at the Emporium Center, Knoxville TN
2011 Knoxville Art & Culture Alliance Annual Members Show
2011 Dogwood Arts Juried Exhibition. Bennett Gallery, Knoxville, TN
2011 Regional Fine Art Exhibition Knoxville, TN
2010 Paintings on display at the City Of Knoxville Mayors Office
2010 New To Knoxville Exhibition, Portfolio award winner Knoxville, TN
2007 North Shore Art League Inchworks Exhibit, Winnetka, IL
2007 North Shore Art League 83rd Annual Members Art Show, Winnetka, IL
2004 Watercolor 2004, Norris Gallery, Saint Charles, IL
2000 Reunited: Art Alumni Invitational, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL
1999 Watercolor 1999, Norris Gallery, Saint Charles, IL
1997 Midwest Watercolor Society 21st Annual Juried Competition, Green Bay, WI
1996 Thresholds 2nd juried art competition, first place, Chicao, IL
1996 Midwest Watercolor Society 20th Annual Juried Competition
1996 Watercolor 1996, Norris Gallery, Saint Charles, IL
1995 13th Annual Chicago land Juried Competition
1995 The Zipping Room, Bogies Brew coffeehouse, Skokie, IL
1994 10,000 Plus Alumni Exhibition, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
1994 Men Define the Feminine, Woman-made Gallery, Chicago, IL