FRAN BULL: Sound & Color Reception Set for 5/24

The Jackson Gallery at Town Hall Theater presents FRAN BULL: Sound & Color, an exhibit of opera portraits on paper inspired by Japanese woodblock prints of Kabuki actors, with an opening reception on Friday, May 24 from 5 - 7 pm.

Fran Bull has been collecting Japanese woodblock prints for many years, enchanted by their beauty. She is especially drawn to depictions of actors, costumed and bewigged for their roles. "You look, then you look again-because the woman shown in her feminine splendor is, in fact, a man!"

The fascination with this double aspect has inspired Bull to create a series of opera portra in homage to the Japanese woodblock print. "Western Operatic tradition itself includes every sort of character­-women as men, men as women, gods, devils, angels, gypsies, clowns, even dolls. My portraits seek to echo the ambiguous nature of the Japanese actor portraits. The subjects are in disguise; they are playing roles."

Fran Bull is a prolific and adventurous artist. She has explored many media in her long career and her art has been exhibited worldwide. Her early work was influenced by the Pop spirit of Photo-Realism. In 1986 she set out on a solitary retreat to rural Ireland and delved into the writings of Carl Jung and Jungian analyst Marion Woodman, an experience that would have a profound influence on her art. A large group of ink drawings emerged.

In the mid 1990's Bull expanded her creative focus to include performance art, sculpture, mixed media, printmaking and set design, as well as painting. Fran Bull lives and works in Brandon, Vermont where in 2005 she establishEd Gallery in-the-Field, a fine art gallery and performance space.

The exhibition will be on display at the Jackson Gallery at Town Hall Theater through July 6, with gallery hours noon to 5 pm, Monday through Saturday, and for an hour before each performance. Contact the Jackson Gallery at (802) 382-9222 or email jacksongallery@townhalltheater.org.