LIGHT, STILLNESS & BEAUTY
Nature Art of the late Leslie Vought Kuenne
WHEN: now through February 6, 2020
WHERE: Olivia Rainbow Gallery, D&R Greenway, One Preservation Place, off Rosedale Road. Princeton
609.924.4646
No need to call to view the Olivia Rainbow Gallery, as it is not rented for events as are the Marie Matthews Galleries of D&R Greenway Land Trust.
D&R Greenway’s Olivia Rainbow Gallery gratefully announces its newest exhibition, nature art of the late Leslie Vought Kuenne Olivia Rainbow Gallery. This art space is maintained in perpetuity, honoring Leslie and Chris Kuenne’s late daughter, Olivia Michelle. Her mother’s exhibit Light, Stillness & Beauty—named by co-curator, Lisa Granozio—evokes the stunning variety of this array of unexpected nature subjects. In life, Leslie Kuenne downplayed the power of her arresting paintings and photographs. D&R Greenway Land Trust is deeply appreciative to Leslie’s husband, Christopher and their sons, Peter, William and Matthew; as well as Leslie’s cherished sister, Victoria, for the privilege of remembering Leslie through displaying this sample of her wide-ranging work.
The remarkable Leslie Kuenne was a generous public servant, multi-faceted friend and diverse artist. Her lesser-known talents include gifted chef and energetic, even inventive gardener. Her husband, Christopher B. Kuenne, founder of Rosetta and Rosemark Capital, and author, is a Princeton University lecturer in entrepreneurship. Until shortly before her death, Leslie served as the generative and expansive President of McCarter Theatre Center’s Board of Trustees. Her sister, Victoria, with Chris and the boys, joined Leslie’s friend, Lisa Granozio, in choosing images for this compact, yet wide-ranging memorial exhibition.
A hefty Savoy cabbage contends with the intimacy of a softly burgeoning tulip. Her saucy rooster painting challenges a nearby portrait of a nearly exploding tulip. Leslie’s approaches to tulips in particular, could be said to be that of a deep-sea diver. A billow of antique lace holds its own above her challenging scene of hairy knees and reaching hands. Leslies remarkable close-up of local ice contends in both hue and line with her intense oil of a Vermont sunset. Coming from a highly artistic family (her father, Peter Vought’s “passion to create came in the form of paintings, sculptures, gardens and even story-telling,” his work internationally collected. Leslie carried her father’s versatility to unexplored levels.
Contrast could be said to have been Leslie’s specialty. Though we can no longer travel with the artist in person, visitors to the Olivia Rainbow Gallery are guided on diverse journeys. Contrast may have been Leslie’s passion: viz. entwining leaves softening harshly weathered wood. Brittle paint curls contrast with severe straightness in a venerable fence.
Friend and co-artist, Lisa Granozio, is responsible for inspired juxtapositions of Leslie’s works, throughout this fine tribute to her late friend.
Photos by Lisa Granozio
