December 2009: Reflections of Nature with Tracy Booth

Banner Elk – Wintertime in Avery County is a magical time of year.  A time when skiers arrive in droves, families gather to give thanks, and most are able to enjoy a little time off to build snow people with family and friends.  The holidays have a wonderful ability to bring folks together, young and old to see the beauty surrounding them.  Avery Arts Council is proud to be able to help provide a little beauty to the area at the Cheese House Art Gallery where Bakersville resident, Tracy Booth, will have her paintings on display throughout the month of December.

Tracy grew up in Durham, NC, but escaped to the Appalachian Mountains as quickly as possible by enrolling at Virginia Tech.  It was here she received her B.S. in Botany to fulfill her desire for deeper knowledge of the natural world.  Upon graduation, she found herself captivated with the world of theatrics.  Tracy spent fourteen years as a lighting technician, with projects from Portland, Oregon, to Roanoke, Virginia.  In 2005, Tracy and her husband needed a change of scenery and moved to the small arts-oriented community of Bakersville, NC.

A self-taught artist, Tracy paints primarily in acrylics and watercolors.  Her education as a botanist and years of work as a theater designer have created a foundation for expressing an idealized nature that focuses on shape and color.  “When designing in theatre, one of the primary rules is that of simplicity and eliminating all that is not necessary to communicate the essence of the material,” says Tracy.  In her paintings, the simple lines and colors allow the contours of the landscape or pattern to take front stage.  Tracy’s artwork creates a secret personal haven for the viewer, which contrasts with the harsh complexity of the human world. 

 “Reflections of Nature” will be on exhibit through the month of December.  For more information please visit the Avery County Arts Council website at www.averycountyartscouncil.org or give us a call at 828-898-4292