Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition presents annual art exhibit

Containing 31 works by a small fraction of the some 150 artists who will be represented in the fundraising show later this month, the preview exhibit is on view through Sept. 23 at Leadership Square.

Liz Roth, of Seattle, supplies us with an expansive view of blue-purple shadows encroaching on the sunlit orange formations of the “Grand Canyon (at) Dusk” in a superb small oil on board. Rivaling its impact are Oklahoma City artist David Holland's oil of a giant “Mountain Storm over Taos,” and Carol Beesley's oil canvas of a red mosaic of rocks forming Oklahoma's “Glass Mountain.”

Excellent still life compositions include Tulsa artist Margaret Aycock's oil of a “Fruit Stand,” and Yukon artist Becky Way's pastel of a red persimmon, “Sittin' Pretty,” on a stack of dark brown plates.

A blue bird enjoys a “Fall Breeze” and golden leaves, seemingly perched on the round frame of a three-dimensional constructed painting by Oklahoma City artist Nick Bayer. Among other well-handled animal subjects are a partly abstract acrylic painting of a mare and colt by Kristin Vails, and a mixed media collage of a wild-looking dog about to attack us by William Struby.

Intriguing, too, is Michael Wilson's encaustic on panel painting of a “Mockingbird” which may be dead or about to test its wings. A black-and-white photo by John Seward directs our attention to a Volkswagen sculpture “Near Lexington on Hwy 77,” and an acrylic painting by Diana J. Smith divides a dog's face into expressive planes of color.