Reflections of Washington Grove and Eggleston Glen: Paintings by Bruce Vair

“I had heard of Washington Grove, a rare old growth forest existing in the city of Rochester’s Cobbs Hill Park. As I walked through the grove for the first time, I noticed the massive tree trunks were dappled in sunshine and shadow. I tried to capture that magical feeling of quiet majesty in my series of paintings.”

Another meaningful place for me is Eggleston Glen. I was introduced as a child to the glen overlooking Keuka Lake by my mother, who had hiked there in her childhood. The steep banks of shalestone, overhung by trees, creates a mysterious atmosphere for the hiker, with the ever-present bubbling and splashing of the stream to cool the senses on a hot summer day. I created a series of paintings based on a visit there on a bright, October day, with golden leaves falling. My goal was to capture the effect of water falling ceaselessly on stone and how light is reflected on both surfaces.”