Grenning Gallery Opens a Kelly Carmody and Nelson H. White Show

This weekend, Grenning Gallery in Sag Harbor will unveil “Carmody | White,” an exhibition celebrating Kelly Carmody and Nelson H. White, two classically trained painters who have redirected their skilled hands to soften, allowing them to dive into their curiosity about uncommon color associations found in nature, which now drives their compositions.

This exhibit will be on view from Saturday, May 24, through Sunday, June 15, and opens with a reception on Saturday, May 24, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., where both artists will be in attendance.

Kelly Carmody (b. 1977, Massachusetts) continues to assert herself as ‘king of her canvas’ with her latest body of work. Rooted in realism, Carmody’s compositions start very traditional in subject and composition; however, she further removes her skilled hand by painting a single subject in multiple mediums and palettes and then using her sketches as reference; Carmody’s new process has unearthed a unique point of view that feels both contemporary and harkens back to the studios of Henri Matisse, or Pierre Bonnard.

Lifelong painter Nelson H. White (b. 1932, Connecticut) is widely appreciated for his loyalty to natural landscapes and intimate impressionism. His loose brushstrokes are skillfully applied, consistently capturing a quiet, relaxed atmosphere, whether that be on a beach in Italy or a view of the bay from Shelter Island. White, who has been painting en plein air for over 70 years, communicates nature’s serenity through his spacious compositions and subtle details.

White has been painting professionally since the 1960s and studied with the world-famous Pietro Annigoni, after growing up in a family of painters. His father, Nelson C. White (1900-1989), and his grandfather, Henry C. White (1861-1952), both painted and are considered part of the Connecticut Impressionist School. His grandfather sailed over to Shelter Island in 1908 and bought a healthy tract of land on Menantic Creek and built a family “fishing homestead” on the water. While the whole family visits and paints on the property like their forefathers, the community is grateful that the White family has recently gifted most of the open space to the Community Preservation Fund.

Grenning Gallery is pleased to report that after over 100 years of painting on Shelter Island, the White family will be honored with a museum show. The Shelter Island History Museum will be hosting “Generations of Shelter Island Impressionists,” an exhibition of paintings from Nelson H. White, his father Nelson C. White and his grandfather Henry C. White. The exhibition opens at Shelter Island History Museum on Saturday, June 28, and runs through October 11. The museum is located at 16 South Ferry Road on Shelter Island

Grenning Gallery is located at 26 Main Street in Sag Harbor. For details, visit grenninggallery.com.