Mark Bettis is best known for his richly textured abstract paintings, created by layering oil, cold wax, and additives like sand and marble dust. Though this signature style has secured him a respected place in Asheville’s arts scene, Bettis once envisioned a different creative life for himself. “When I was in grade school, there was a contest to paint an American Indian, so I entered it,” says Bettis, who was raised in Chicago. “I won, and always thought I would either be an artist who paints people or a photographer.” Bettis will finally realize this childhood aspiration in An Arctic Soirée. Happening at Gallery Mélange on Biltmore Avenue, the show will feature a special series of figurative portraits by Bettis. Some of these pieces are moody, while others, like “A Man and His Bear,” offer levity. The latter depicts a handsome gentleman posing in an armchair with an equally handsome ursine in the background. Bettis says the portrait is a cheeky nod to the bear subculture in the gay community, which celebrates men who are typically larger, hairier, and more rugged. “I have always wanted to paint this portrayal, and adding the real bear gives it some added humor,” says Bettis. “And, of course, we live in a town full of bears — both kinds.” An Arctic Soirée will also feature contemporary abstract paintings by Victoria Pinney and fine jewelry by Jeffrey Burroughs. The show opens on Friday, January 17.
An Arctic Soirée: A Celebration of New Work opens Friday, January 17, 5-8pm.
Gallery Mélange, 67 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, gallerymelange.com