"Birds of a Feather" Exhibition at Deblois Gallery

"Birds of a Feather" Exhibition
At the DeBlois Gallery May 3-31, 2025
Opening Reception Saturday May 3, 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Gallery Night Thursday May 8, 5:00 - 7:00 PM

Our May exhibit features the work of fine-art painters Hilary Archer and Nick Williams, ceramic sculptor Jillian Barber, and wildlife photographer Michael Day. The show’s title, Birds of a Feather, celebrates the various ways that birds inspire these four artists as they seek to bring out the beauty and energy of our feathered friends in their work.

Fine artist Hilary Archer, who works from her home studio in Jamestown, Rhode Island, says that she has always found inspiration in the animal kingdom, but is particularly fascinated by birds and their unique range of shapes, sizes, personalities and behaviors. To Archer, birds have a lot to say about their environment and symbolize many things to us. “They often seem to visit us in moments of joy and grief, as if to bear witness to our human experience and offer light and passage. Birds have also given us blueprints for human inventions that allow us to harness their gifts. My drawings and paintings are an expression of my appreciation for their stories, and the significance of this seemingly ordinary
class of animals.”

Also a Jamestown resident, DeBlois member Jillian Barber is an award-winning ceramic sculptor whose work is inspired by nature and fantasy. She creates mythical beings of land, and sea, and sky. Especially inspired by birds, Barber notes that “this time of year, birds are all aflutter returning from faraway places, finding mates, building nests, and sitting on eggs till they hatch. We watch the cycle of life right outside our windows.” Her work in this show includes portraits surrounded by flowers and birds, and jardinieres with both birds and bees. Wildlife photographer and DeBlois member Michael Day gathers strength and sanity by walking daily in the forest, communing with whatever nature brings, learning the patterns, activities, and songs of the birds in every season of the year. Although his main project is to document the beauty of wildlife near where he lives in Illinois, recent travels have taken him to distant lands. In this exhibit, he celebrates birds from around the world: Alaska, Australia, Ecuador, Egypt, Illinois, Japan, and Rhode Island.

Fine art painter and DeBlois member Nick Williams says that he loves being outdoors and spending time observing nature. “This directly affects my subject matter when I’m making art. I want to bring those moments inside. From landscapes to animals like fish and birds I’m constantly taking reference photos while I’m exploring land and sea. Then in the studio I get to interpret my version of those moments onto canvas. My love of birds is why I was asked to join this show and I’m excited to share my paintings.”

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The DeBlois Gallery is located at 134 Aquidneck Avenue in Middletown and is open 1:00 – 5:00 PM Wednesday through Sunday. All welcome; ample, free parking! DeBlois Gallery is actively seeking artists who would like to show their work in 2026. Please see our website for details.