Grab this Painting for a Steal!

Starting bid is just $200 with free local pickup (or $30 shipped anywhere in the lower 48)

This 22in x 28 in acrylic and oil on canvas was created in May 2020 and depicts the Patterson Park Boat Lake in Baltimore, MD, USA. Check out the creation process in the previous blog post!

10% of the proceeds of this auction will be donated to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund

Beth-Ann Wilson (American, b. Copiague, NY, lives and works in Baltimore, MD) received her BFA in Painting from Maryland Institute College of Art. Wilson is a painter, gallery owner, entrepreneur, and community activist. Wilson's art focuses on expressive portraiture and natural landscapes inspired by the places she has traveled to and explored. Owning Night Owl Gallery has allowed her to work on projects that bring the community together and encourage investment in the neighborhood. Beth-Ann currently has work held in private collections in the United States, England, France, and Thailand. She was recently voted “Best Artist 2018 and 2019” in Baltimore Magazine’s Best of Baltimore Reader’s Poll.

Painting Demo

Originally made for Highlandtown’s Virtual First Friday “Art Walk” in June, this series of 3 videos gives the viewer a glimpse into my world and my painting process. From start to finish I walk you through finding inspiration in the urban landscape in the city of Baltimore, taking reference photos, and then using those photos to make a finished piece which you can see below.

Beth-Ann Wilson Patterson Park Boat Lake 22 in x 28 in 2020

Looming in the Background

Don’t Drink the Water 36 in x 48 in oil on canvas. 2019

I had the same ominous feeling in my gut when I first laid eyes on the tower. My second day in Indiana was Labor Day 2019 and like everyone else in a 50 mile radius I decided to head to the beach. I actually wanted to knock out seeing the State Park, which is a much smaller park nestled within the National Park but is its own separate thing. I had the intention of completing the “3-Dune Challenge” (which entails hiking up and down 3 of the tallest sand dunes on the shore of Lake Michigan) because I desperately needed some exercise after eating junk food and being stuck in the car for the better part of two whole days. Well, before I could get to trudging up these dunes I had to go and look at the Lake and take in Labor Day festivities in a strange place. The beach looked amazing. It reminded me of Jones Beach on Long Island as a kid. My view was narrow as I approached from the parking lot but I could see to the water and there were tons of families playing games, listening to music, sunbathing, eating snacks, and frolicking.

As I walked towards the surf, I gazed east and west up and down the beach. When I got to the shore and was just shocked by how close we were to this huge factory, which I found out later was the ArcelorMittal Steel Mill. They were the culprits behind a huge chemical spill not but 2 weeks before I arrived that killed hundreds of fish and resulted in local public health advisories. To my right, looking west, in the distance was what I assumed to be some sort of nuclear reactor. I don’t know, I grew up watching the Simpsons and I imagined that where I now was staying could have been the basis for the fictional town of Springfield. I already couldn’t believe how many people were casually relaxing in what I presumed could possibly be still contaminated water. Looking east with visions of Homer Simpson chucking neon-green toxic waste out of his car window in the title sequence of America’s favorite cartoon family, I of course had to find out more information about the structure. After finishing my hike I decided to do the only logical thing- drive in its direction.

Kevin Dooley from Chander, AZ, USA - Michigan City, Indiana Uploaded by PDTillman

Michigan City Generating Station is a coal and natural gas-fired power plant located on the shore of Lake Michigan in Michigan City, Indiana. It is operated by Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) which is like BGE is to us in Baltimore. The use of what is called a '“hyperboloid cooling tower” at the station, according to locals, has often been mistaken for a nuclear power plant and Shoreline Brewery has embraced the misunderstanding for their branding.

The siren song of the tower lured me just beyond the eastern edge of Indiana Dunes National Park to the town of Michigan City. I found myself at a lively brewery not far from the base of the tower. In fact, recalling The Simpsons, the brewery’s logo was the three-eyed fish from one of the early seasons.

Shoreline Brewery T-Shirt

I borrowed their tagline for the title for the piece at the top of this post. Luckily, local officials are beginning to realize how dangerous these power plants are and there is now a plans to decommission and remove it. “In a statement, NIPSCO officials say the plan is to retire the majority of its remaining coal-fired generation in the next five years and all coal within 10 years. They say that paves the way for lower-cost renewable energy resources like wind and solar power.” You can read more about that here. If you’d like to read more about the different ways that power plants are public health hazards, this is an informative newsletter from public interest group Citizen Action Coalition.

Brewery with a view

It’s still surreal to me when I look back at my pictures from my time in Northern Indiana. I was really afraid to attempt to capture some of the fear and anxiety that I had about the intrusion that industrial development had on this really unique and special place but after really considering it, I felt that I had to make the paintings that I made to shed light on this absurdity. Life goes on and we make the best of what we’re working with but we need to strive towards a future with much more sustainable and renewable energy for the sake of generations to come. I really hope that the pieces that I created will bring attention to that.

Power Plant Way Off In The Distance

First Friday in Highlandtown

I hope you had a fantastic holiday season! Mine was full of finishing painting commissions, hosting workshops at the gallery, traveling and spending time with friends and family. I can’t believe it is almost the end of January and we are approaching the first First Friday Art Walk of the year on Friday, February 7. As a member of the Highlandtown First Friday Planning Committee, I can tell you that it wasn’t a difficult decision to transition to an almost year-round format for the art walks. Over the past three years the art walks have gained tremendous momentum and have turned into a convivial community event that everyone looks forward to! With the exception of January and July breaks, the Art Walk in 2020 will be year-round.

I’ve been busy preparing the gallery for my Indiana Dunes Artist Residency show. The opening reception will be during the Feb 7 First Friday Art Walk.

As you may have read in a previous blog entry, I was chosen to be an Artist-in-Residence at Indiana Dunes National Park last September. While I was there I completed 11 paintings on canvas. (3 were gifted, one was donated to the National Park Service collection so 4 didn’t come home with me) I had two unfinished pieces that I just completed this week. I also had some touch-up on some of my larger pieces from where the paint had smeared in transport. I also spent a day last week framing them with reclaimed lath strips from Snake Hill.

These pieces are my interpretation of my visit to the Park and the observations and experiences that I had. I was stunned by the juxtaposition of beautiful natural landscape against the backdrop of industry. My paintings capture spontaneous narratives incorporating figures interracting with their environment oblivious to or complacent with the pollution around them. These pieces are commentary on industrialization, climate change, and human adaptation.

Please join me as I am looking forward to sharing these pieces that I worked very hard on with you.

Beth-Ann Wilson Indiana Dunes National Park Artist -in-Residence Paintings Opening Reception

When: Friday, Feb 7, 2020 from 5 - 9 pm

Where: Night Owl Gallery, 248 S Conkling St., Baltimore, MD 21224

Artist Talk: Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 3 pm also at Night Owl Gallery

Man’s Best Friend 36in x 48in oil on canvas 2019

Shop Small Saturday

Come down to Night Owl Gallery the Saturday after Thanksgiving! We’ll be opening early and participating in Highlandtown’s first-ever PASTRY TOUR! New paintings by yours truly. <3 <3 See you there!