“There’s Always a Vacancy at the Bates Motel”

Got cabin fever? Tiring of the monochromatic landscape? Then head over to Mark W. Anderson’s “A ReRETROSPECTIVE” Art Show at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire. The gallery offers a feast of popping colors, whimsical shapes, and simply fun artwork underlined with Anderson’s creative and humorous titles. The show runs until March 25 with an opening reception on Tuesday, Feb 19, starting at 7pm. Anderson, a Chippewa Falls native, earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Serigraphy (Screen Printing) from UW-Eau Claire. He drew as a child, and colors – particularly bright colors – have always appealed to him. His current show focuses on acrylics, but he cut his teeth on screen printing, which he learned from professor and artist Janet Carson. His first retrospective art show was held 31 years ago at the State Theatre, thus the name “ReRETROSPECTIVE.” A walk down the street on a snowy, wintery night holds inspiration for Anderson. A page in a book creates images in his mind. His affection for The Flintstones cartoons as a kid prompted him to create a unique piece called “Pebbles and Bam Bam.” He also loves anything Alfred Hitchcock, which inspired “There Always a Vacancy at the Bates Motel,” initially done as a screen print and later as an acrylic. While many of his pieces take weeks to complete due to the masking required, the result will always burst with blazing bright colors. 

ReRetrospective • Mark Anderson gallery • L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, 400 Eau Claire St., Eau Claire • Through March 25 • Reception 7pm, Feb. 19 • FREE • ecpubliclibrary.info