Historic Cane Hill’s new exhibition of paintings by Arkansas artist Wendel Norton will run May 1 through July 26. An opening reception will take place May 1 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the  Historic Cane Hill Gallery. The event is free and open to the public.

 

Confluence: The Ozark Mountains, Buffalo River, and New York City – Paintings of Wendel Norton will feature works inspired by places where Norton lived. Whether setting up his easel in Central Park or along the Hudson River, painting views from his studio and home, or en plein air on the banks of the Buffalo National River, Norton’s style includes vibrant colors and painterly strokes that capture the natural beauty of the settings. 

 

Ferris Wendel Norton III studied art at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, and the Art Students League in New York City. In the 1970s, he and his wife, Elizabeth, embraced the back-to-the-land movement, settling on a mountainside near Snowball, Arkansas, where he established Hideout Mountain Studio. Then, after time living and working in New York City, Wendel returned to Arkansas, balancing art conservation projects with Norton Arts alongside his own creative work. He found inspiration in familiar landscapes, painting scenes along the banks of the Buffalo National River and Cave Creek in Newton County. Until his passing in 2019, he continued to paint and sculpt in his studio at the nearby May Farmstead.

 

The Historic Cane Hill Gallery is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.