THE VIEW FROM PARADISE The Paintings of Alyne Harris

The Galleries at the Historic Thomas Center announce the opening of The View from Paradise – The Paintings of Alyne Harris at the Historic Thomas Center in The Doris Bardon Gallery Friday, May 25. An opening reception to honor the artist will take place from 7-10 p.m. during Artwalk Gainesville.

Curated by Anne E. Gilroy, the exhibition’s exuberant body of work by native Gainesville painter Alyne Harris is in the tradition of folk, outsider or self-taught art. Harris is widely recognized, both locally and far beyond her home region, for her visionary paintings. The View from Paradise brings together a body of Harris’ larger works, many of which have never been exhibited and are certain to be appreciated by both fans of Harris and by newcomers to her work.

This exhibition is part of a larger folk art exhibition partnership hosted concurrently by the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, the Hippodrome, Santa Fe College and the Gainesville Fine Arts Association, along with the Galleries at the Historic Thomas Center.

The May 25 opening event for The View from Paradise at the Thomas Center offers a full evening of art, music and entertainment including a curator talk on the Art & Life of Eddy Mumma from 6-7 p.m. in the Long Gallery; soul and blues music by the Ramblin’ Mutts from 7:30-10 p.m. in the Spanish Court; the Into the Light – The Rediscovered Paintings and Prints of Louise Leak exhibition downstairs in the Thomas Center Gallery; and The Art of Eddy Mumma exhibition on the mezzanine level in the Mary Prosen Room adjacent The View from Paradise in The Doris Bardon Gallery.