Artist Francis Eck. (Robert Luckock photo)
COLE BAY--The work of acclaimed St. Martin-based artist Francis Eck is to feature prominently at the Art Box Gallery’s solo exhibition set for this coming Thursday, May 31, 2018, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm in Cole Bay.
This event is the third in the series of art exhibitions at the new gallery, following Art Hub and “In Irma’s Wake” an exhibition of hurricane debris fashioned into art by April Hankins.
The theme of Francis Eck’s exhibition is the five elements: water, wind, light, stone and sound. His unique oil paintings are always instantly recognizable and a delight to behold. He has held exhibitions all over the world and won numerous awards and accolades.
According to his official biography, “Francis Eck was born August 7, 1949, in Dannemarie, Alsace. Enraptured with nature from his earliest childhood, he spent all his free time alone in the fields and the forest, dreaming and observing animals, which he later reproduced in water colour.
“Every year, during school holidays, he went to Dunkirk and there discovered another element that fascinated him: the sea. He was accepted for CREPS in Boulouris when he was 18 years old and graduated with a diploma from the National Education board.
“He practiced as a physical education instructor in his native country for 15 years or so until his insatiable desire for some sun and turquoise water prompted him to ask for a transfer to St. Barthélemy and then Guadeloupe.
“During this period, he started to express his love of nature more and more through painting. Alone in front of his canvas, he found himself plunging back into that happy state of solitude he remembered from his childhood. Shortly thereafter he gave up his activity with the education board and dedicated himself entirely to painting.
“A combination of circumstances brought him to St. Martin where he decided to live, but frequent trips away were necessary to inspire and renew his creative force. His sources of inspiration, which are still nature and the sea, enable him to advance gently towards the very essence of his subject. As he refines the work reality and abstraction merge and the painting, nurtured from exterior elements, no longer exists by itself.”
Art Box Gallery owned by Zdenka Kiric was formerly located in Bobby’s Marina, Philipsburg, for nine years but since the hurricanes of 2017 moved to 89A, Welfare Road in Cole Bay. It’s the only gallery to feature samples of work from 17 artists, including Zdenka Kiric’s own line of fine jewellery.
