"Incandescence" – Paintings by Anna Franklin at Crazy Monkey Gallery

"Incandescence" - An exhibition of floral paintings by Anna Franklin.

August 9th to 27th. Reception on August 11 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Crazy Monkey Gallery, 136 Main St., Amagansett, NY 11930

A series of paintings that are "Incandescence" and honor the hot summers that produce such "hot" colorful flowers!!

"Incandescence" in honor of the glorious, long hot summers in which the flowers are at its best and dazzle us with their scent, colors, shape and beauty! How true is the old adage: "Say it with flowers" when we use them as messengers of our moods and emotions.

"Anemones" by Anna Franklin. Acrylic, 24 x 48 inches.

I have been working on this series for months and it has been, for me, a wonderful voyage down memory lane.

Memories of my mom and I picking wild flowers in the countryside of my hometown in Italy: chamomile, lavender, poppies, jasmine, mint, etc. We used wild flowers in cooking, for medicinal purposes, for scenting the rinse water of laundry and for adornment.

Capers, which grow wild in the rocky beaches of my hometown, are nothing less than "buds" of flowers. If left alone, they will bloom into beautiful, delicate, thimble orchids-like flowers. Almond, peach, pear and many other fruit trees bear beautiful flowers before their fruit in the Spring.

"The Glass Orchid" by Anna Franklin.

Flowers's diverse and exotic provenance conjures up images of far away lands and mysterious worlds that are so much part of our dreams!!

My habit of making garlands and wearing them on my head, pretending to be a Renaissance Princess in waiting, continued in my "young" adult years with the habit of wearing flowers on my lapels, hats, hair.

I got married with (what else?) flowers in my hair.

With age and the stresses of life, one forgets this "soft", romantic side of life. A few months ago, I returned to paint flowers with an emotional, passionate need to revisit their beauty.

I painted them in different styles and mediums, as I saw them in my heart, in order to capture their essence of femininity which I hope to stir in all of us, women AND men.

I dedicate this series to the youth that is still in our hearts!

"Incandescence" runs from August 9th to 27th at the Crazy Monkey Gallery. A reception will be held on August 11th from 5 to 7 p.m.

The gallery is located at 136 Main St., Amagansett, NY 11930. Tel. 631-267-3627. http://thecrazymonkeygallery.com/

Anna Franklin's art is included in the 45th Annual Artists of the Springs Invitational held from Aug 4 to 19, 2012 at Ashawagh Hall, 780 Springs Fireplace Road, East Hampton, NY. www.ashawagh-hall.org