The Village Theater at Cherry Hill is pleased to present over 20 paintings by artist Durwood Coffey. The exhibit will run November 1-29, 2016, in the Gallery@VT, located at 50400 Cherry Hill Road in Canton, MI 48187.
Following in the footsteps of such childhood hero’s as Howard Pyle, N.C. Wyeth and Norman Rockwell, Durwood Coffey learned the art of illustration and practiced this visual skill for over 30 years in the corporate world. His clients came from across the country representing such firms as Detroit Edison, Anheuser-Busch, General Motors, SeaWorld, Capital Cities and Marvel Comics. It was in this commercial visual training ground where projects ranging from spot illustration in periodicals to the creation of major series of paintings for corporate boardrooms were made. This business environment is where Coffey kept his artistic vision and skills honed for a day in which he could unleash them upon the personal subjects of his choice.
Born in 1951, Coffey began creating art at an early age. Influenced by his artistic family, especially by his father and an older brother who were both enamored by the practice of drawing, Coffey found his natural attraction and enjoyment in the creation of images from the animal world.
Throughout his years in school, he discovered his true passion and always excelled in art classes. Immediately after high school graduation, Coffey enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he had the job title of Combat Artist. After serving his term of duty, he attended college where he majored in Fine Art and Illustration.
Living and working under the urban Detroit smokestacks of the automotive capital of the world, his success depended on his ability to produce artwork in a wide variety of subject matter, ranging from cars, trucks, architecture, cartoons, portraits and landscapes. Many of these works won him awards and recognition among his peers in the field of illustration.
In time, Coffey felt it was important to return to painting the subjects that he most enjoyed as a child, the images that never left his creative imagination. The world of the animal kingdom and its habitat soon came back to life on canvas and paper. With the freedom to explore the vast variety of wildlife subjects that exist in the world and reference them through his personal artistic expression, a collection of insects, fish and animals took form and await the eyes of the world for consummation.
Works of this award-winning artist will be on display from November 1-29, 2016, Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., as well as during public performances at the theater and also by appointment. The Gallery@VT is closed on holidays.
A special opening reception is planned for Thursday, November 3, 2016, from 7-9 p.m. and is open to the public.
The Village Theater at Cherry Hill is a regional center for the arts that offers the magic of live theatre, soul-stirring music, the thrill of the dance, and the enjoyment of fine art exhibitions and events, in addition to providing a home for several cultural organizations and community groups. For more information about this latest exhibition in the Gallery@VT, please call 734/394-5300 or visit cantonvillagetheater.org.