PUTNEY, VT— 10/21/2022 — The NXT Gallery presents Elemental Abstractions: Works on Paper by Joe Norris, The exhibit opens on November 26, 2022, with a reception from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, free and open to the public; and runs through February 13, 2023. The Next Stage Gallery is open to the public during scheduled performances in the theater, and by appointment.

Joe Norris’s paintings explore the area between representational art and total abstraction. Implying, rather than rendering, invites the viewer to participate…to engage with the created image. Through the use of color, composition, and texture, he aims to create the essence of something…to create a feel for a subject matter. By using typography, collage, and graphic elements as a starting point to develop an underpainting, in addition to a series of transparent washes, these elements suggest a previous history that adds to the sense of space and visual depth.

A graduate of the New England School of Art, Norris has held the positions of Art Director/Creative Director for various ad agencies in the Boston area. Building on this experience, he opened Norris Design in Boston where he created promotions for a number of area companies. At the same time, his painting practice expanded, and he began teaching a watercolor class at a local art association. His representational work eventually transitioned into abstract art.

Norris has received recognition and awards for his work, including Best of Show at the Kennebunkport Art Festival, Newburyport Art Association, and Moosehill Reservation. He has had two solo shows at Boston’s Eclipse Gallery.

Norris is a Gallery Artist in both the South Shore Art Association in Cohasset, MA, and the Copley Society of Art in Boston.

He now resides in Dummerston, Vermont, and paints in a newly constructed studio.

About Next Stage

Next Stage is located at 15 Kimball Hill in downtown Putney, VT. For more information, please call 802-387-0102, email [email protected], or visit nextstagearts.org.

Next Stage serves southeastern Vermont as a regional cultural hub, arts producer, and instigator of meaningful cultural experiences. Founded in 2010 as a nonprofit organization, Next Stage Arts is a transformative, community-centered project dedicated to revitalizing Putney’s cultural and economic village center through excellence in arts programming valuing diversity as a springboard for nurturing community.

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