Wood River Valley artist Jerry Mells enjoys his creative endeavors as a sculptor and a painter. Mells also loves his dogs, Trinka and Chaya, which he adopted from the Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley.
Mells' wife, Sheila, served as a longtime board member for the animal shelter and continues to serve as an ex-officio director. To show his love for his pets and the organization they were adopted from, Mells plans to give the Hailey-area shelter 100 percent of the proceeds from his art sales at his first exhibition at the Green Antelope Gallery in Bellevue.
Mells is the most recent painter to join Green Antelope's burgeoning group of artists, which now totals 24. The gallery focuses on local and regional artists who represent a variety of mediums, from paintings and sculpture to photography and jewelry.
"Jerry's abstract paintings are modern expressions of geometry and color," said gallery owner Brooke Bonner. "The strong lines and bright palette provide striking images for viewers to contemplate."
After Mells finished college, dental school and got married, he became interested in learning about art. He and his wife wanted to hang more paintings in their home but could not afford to buy art, so he decided to paint. After learning to paint, Mells became interested in metal sculpture and eventually created sculpture for family members and close friends.
When Mells moved to the valley 15 years ago, he began making wooden sculptures from the driftwood and branches around his home. He said he has turned back to the paintbrush because he wants some modern paintings to hang in a home he owns in California.
The Green Antelope Gallery will host an opening reception for Mells and exhibit of his works tonight, April 17, from 5-9 p.m. The gallery is located at the corner of Oak Street and Second Avenue in Bellevue.
For details, call 788-2353.
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
"Modern Design II" by Jerry Mells, an acrylic-on-canvas painting on display at the Green Antelope Gallery in Bellevue.
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