Judy Gilbert

Gallery B Welcomes localCOLOR

Gallery B is pleased to announce “A Sense of Place,” an exhibit by localCOLOR, throughout October. The exhibit will feature paintings by artists Anne Albright, Shelley Dane, Courtney Severe, Judy Gilbert and Jean Schlesinger. localCOLOR…

Gallery B is pleased to announce “A Sense of Place,” an exhibit by localCOLOR, throughout October. The exhibit will feature paintings by artists Anne Albright, Shelley Dane, Courtney Severe, Judy Gilbert and Jean Schlesinger. localCOLOR is an organization bringing artists together in the Greater Washington, D.C. area to support the community by donating a percentage of sales to Manna and World Central Kitchen. Gallery B, located at 7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite E, Bethesda, MD, will be open October 13 – November 5, 2022 on Thursdays and Fridays from 12-6 pm; Saturdays from 12-5pm, and Sundays from 11am-3pm. An opening reception will be held on Friday, October 14, from 5-8pm.

Anne Albright loves painting in watercolor because of its transparency and unexpected results. Her unique “Meditations” start as pigment on paper and are completed by following the changes in value or color with ink. Each one can take her 10-20 hours to complete. Anne titles the “Meditation” after it is completed, and she has turned it multiple ways multiple times to see what imagery appears to her. She lives in Bethesda, and is currently the President of the Washington Water Color Association and Co-Chair of the Capitol Hill Art League.

Shelley Dane enjoys puzzles, resulting in how she views the world around her with the perspective of shapes that fit naturally into one another. These shapes and images provide inspiration for her work. The individually cut pieces of glass or other tesserae mimic the puzzle pieces. The empty tray is transformed into a beautiful artistic creation. She derived added inspiration from her international travels. While living in Bucharest, Romania, she was introduced to, trained, and fell in love with the art of mosaics. The art of mosaics plus the science of resin is the perfect way for her to create art that is both beautiful and functional as serving trays and other home decors.

Courtney Severe became attracted to the art of watercolor painting from the colors and luminosity. Her goal is to capture the emotion found in everyday scenes and objects through the medium of watercolor, with its unique spontaneity. She resides in Bethesda and teaches art to preschoolers, who help Courtney hone her creative edge.

Judy Gilbert is a plein air oil and studio painter. After a more traditional office job and craving a career shift, Judy began focusing on art full-time. She became a member of the Foundry Gallery in Washington, D.C., in 1998. A resident artist at Studio B in downtown Bethesda, Judy’s paintings capture local scenes, personal travels, and landscapes. As she explains, “Working en plein air with oil paints, I hold onto the yellow splash of sunlight or deep purple shade that caught my eye and then provide an impressionistic view of the landscape, buildings, and figures I see. I use studio time to reflect on the ideas that seemed compelling outdoors and refine them to create greater intimacy and depth in my work.” She is currently the Chair of the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District.

Jean Schlesinger draws inspiration from nature. She paints primarily in oil and gravitates toward landscapes, where light, color, and shadows continually reveal new ways of seeing things. She enjoys painting outdoors year-round and often finishes work in the studio. Jean previously practiced law and now volunteers in the community, including through KindWorks.

Established by Montgomery County in 1994, Bethesda Urban Partnership, Inc. (BUP) is a downtown management organization that markets and maintains downtown Bethesda. The BUP team works in marketing, maintenance, transportation, and administration to produce cultural events and community festivals and attend to landscaping and maintenance needs. BUP also manages the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District, Bethesda Transportation Solutions (BTS), and the Bethesda Circulator, as well as the non-profit art spaces, Gallery B, Studio B, and Triangle Art Studios.

From award-winning theatre to independent films, downtown Bethesda’s Arts & Entertainment District is filled with inspiring artists and art venues. The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District is managed by the Bethesda Urban Partnership, Inc., and is the producer of The Trawick Prize: Bethesda Contemporary Art Awards, Bethesda Painting Awards, Bethesda Fine Arts Festival, and Bethesda Film Fest.


For a closer look, please visit www.bethesda.org.