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Located on the lower level of the St. Cecilia Music Center building, the Terryberry Gallery showcases area artists throughout the year, making it a unique and beautiful space for hosting small receptions or as an overflow space when renting the Mika Music Library.
For room rental availability for your special event, please contact Event & Facility Director Carla Messing at 616.459.2224 (ext 204) or carla@scmcgr.org.
CHARLES LARUE
Charles grew up in South Haven, Michigan, but moved to Grand Rapids to attend the Kendal School of Design; now Kendall College of Art & Design. He graduated from this commercial art school as an illustrator, and did a stint in commercial illustration and design, but he soon found himself inexorably drawn to fine arts painting.
During his student days at Kendall, he took three months abroad to explore in and around Paris. It was there that the seeds were planted that would blossom into a recognizable stylistic approach for him.
Charles started out life with visual perception challenges. He would draw pictures of his visual environment for better comprehension. He still has residual aspects of this condition, but uses it to his benefit as a painter. He still initially sees isolated, abstract patches. He knits it all together into a gestalt painting. This is why many of his works have a pieced-together appearance.
Neighborhood Light & Shadow, Oil
Charles has done everything from theater set painting and murals, to animation and graphic novel illustration. His mainstay, however, is being an easel jockey, using his beloved alkyd fast drying oil paints on either canvas or panel.
He loves to teach and has worked as a contract art teacher for under-served communities, as well as given presentations and demonstrations, workshops and small classes or private art lessons.
Charles has work in many public, private and corporate collections overseas and throughout the US. Through Art Consulting Services, his work can be seen in giclee form in numerous medical facilities.
Golden Tops by the Field, Oil
ARTIST RECEPTION
Friday, December 5 | 5-7pm
Note: The Terryberry Art Gallery will be closed from December 21 through January 3, 2025
Throughout the artist's residency, select pieces are available for purchase through St. Cecilia Music Center. Contact Event + Facility Director Carla Messing at carla@scmcgr.org for more information.
