'Southern Comfort' by John Sauers
John Sauers has an exhibit at The Gallery @ Barr Photographics this fall—entitled “93 and Going Strong” — which reflects his age and his continued vitality. A reception and art talk is held Saturday, Oct. 10 from 2-5 p.m., at the gallery, which is at 203 W. Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia.
Sauers was active in the local art scene as a plein air painter for many years. He was a founding member of The Arts Depot in Abingdon and later an artist-in-residence at the William King Museum of Art. Through his career he has influenced a host of local and regional artists through painting classes, seminars, workshops and his outgoing personality. Abingdon artist Kyle Buckland proclaims that Sauers was his early mentor and encouraged him to become a plein air painter. Sauers moved to Green Cove, Virginia, in 1991 after a career in graphic arts in Baltimore. He returned home to rural Maryland in 2005 to be close to his family.
In his artist’s statement, Sauers says, “There is something rather honorable about the tradition of plein-air painting. It’s just the artist, his canvas and his paints, right there, painting what he sees. Now, at 93, after my brush with mortality from contracting COVID-19 three years ago, I am continuing to mentor while painting every day and showing work in various venues along the East Coast and Upper Midwest, in addition to my longstanding presence in Dean Barr’s gallery.”
Gallery owner Barr says, “John F. Sauers is one of the few remaining art patriarchs of his generation. For the 25 years I have represented John Sauers’ work, I have marveled at his tenacity, toughness and desire to keep painting as years have crept up on him. Not only is painting his life’s work, but it is also his physical and mental therapy; painting keeps John young and sharp. John’s plein air paintings and old school techniques continue to be an inspiration to the younger artists who are continually surprised by his openness and cheerful sharing of the vast body of knowledge he possesses. At 93, John is still prolific in his art production and going strong.”
