Happiness, the celebration of life and living in the moment are central themes in Philip Frey’s paintings presented in “Earth, Water, and Sky,” a solo show at Edgewater Gallery at The Falls, in Middlebury during the month of October.
A native of Maine, Frey studied at Columbus College of Art and Design and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from Syracuse University in 1990. Frey has been exhibiting his work since 1994, and shows in several galleries and private collections up and down the eastern seaboard.
Frey’s talents as an oil painter enable him to capture light and space in a way that is unexpected in its minimalist reduction of shape, yet elegant in the painting’s unity as a whole. Each painting is a delightful, cohesive mix of representational and abstracted elements that work together to portray scenes found in nature, domestic interiors, backyards and small towns.
“CRIMSON BARNS” BY Philip Frey
As a young man, Frey hitchhiked through England and Scotland. In Edinburgh he bartered a mural in exchange for lodging. This was the start of Frey’s tendency towards simplicity and resourcefulness. His subsequent trips to Nepal and India offered him a spiritual connection and understanding of Buddhism and meditation that profoundly impacted his artistic process.
“We can’t really pin down the ever-changing world in any way,” Frey says. “I take what I see and express that in paint in such a way that honors that reality. If I do have an agenda, it is to softly persuade myself and the viewer to slow down, relax and enjoy the fullness of their experience.”
Frey paints from direct perception, preferring the dynamic quality and challenges of working from life. By spending time with his subjects he becomes familiar with their unique characteristics. He translates these impressions to canvas in order to create the feeling of a moment within his paintings. Frey uses bold colors to give his work a contemporary feel, while his brushy style is reminiscent of a more traditional landscape painter.
“THE SUN NEVER Sets,” by Philip Frey
A newly released hardcover book, “Here and Now” by art critic Daniel Kany and art writer Carl Little, explores the art historical references in Frey’s work, traces the history of landscape painting in Maine. It includes reproductions of Frey’s work. 
An opening reception will be held at the gallery on Oct. 12. Here and Now will be available to purchase; this event will double as a book-signing event, co-hosted by The Vermont Book Shop. For more info call (802) 458-0098, email [email protected] or visit edgewatergallery-vt.com.