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The Gmeiner Art & Cultural Center is pleased to announce the Main Gallery exhibit for July “Trompe L’oeil and Beyond” a collection of surrealist oil paintings by Bloomsburg University professor Vincent Hron. This exhibit will open with an artist’s reception from 6-8PM on Friday, July 8th. Light refreshments will be provided. Trompe l’oeil is a French phrase which means “deceive the eye.” In painting, it refers to the creation of an optical illusion in which depicted objects appear to be three dimensional. What at first looks like a hyper realistic landscape will soon surprise and delight guests with elements such as a wrench, a pool floatie, or insects that seem to be coming out at the viewer.

Trompe L’oeil elements are often associated with the 16th century “Vanitas” tradition in painting in which depictions of impermanent or fragile still life objects were used to remind viewers of life’s precious, fleeting nature in order to encourage moral behavior. Though not all of the paintings in this exhibition employ trompe l’oeil, the goal of helping viewers to become increasingly self-aware is part of all of the work. These images encourage the viewer to reconsider their expectations in the hope that it might enable people to make choices that would lead to a better world.

Vince completed a B.F.A. from Drake University (Des Moines, IA,1984) and an M.F.A. from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI, 1987). He received a Graduate Scholarship to study for a year at The State Academy of Fine Arts Karlsruhe, Germany. He then established a regular studio and exhibition practice in his hometown, Omaha, NE. He was an adjunct faculty member at several area colleges. In 1996 he accepted a position at Bloomsburg University and is currently a full professor having exhibited nationally, and having received numerous grants and awards. Vince has pieces on display in national and international collections.

The Gmeiner is located at 134 Main Street, Wellsboro, behind the Green Free Library. We are open from 12-6PM Tuesday through Sunday and admission to the gallery is always free.