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Chester County Press

Small landscapes by Carole Huber at Bookplace

03/21/2016 01:04PM ● By J. Chambless

'Fairhill Park Road'

By John Chambless
Staff Writer

The “50 Under $50” solo show by Carole Huber at Bookplace in Oxford has plenty to offer, and the price is certainly right.

The exhibit, which opened last weekend, features 50 small landscapes of local places, and many of them have a splendid sense of place and finely rendered interplay of land and sky. You will recognize most of these places, and Huber has a nice way of distilling a scene in just four or five inches of canvas.

There's a rich texture of shadow and light in “Fairhill Park Road,” and a wonderful expanse of open space in “Brandywine Park.” “Chesapeake Bridge” is a familiar landmark with a dramatic sweep of pillars and arching roadway.

“Sussex County Clouds,” a view of house, field and woods, is a distillation of much of downstate Delaware, and “Soybean Field, Middletown” has a warm, golden tone that's also seen in “Chester County Field.”

“Snowy Trees in Newark” combines the chill of the snow on the ground with the slanting sunlight on the tree trunks, adding just a touch of warmth. Some of the works are left loose, such as “Distant Farm in Chester County,” and others are more precise, such as the vivid blue sweep of water and sky in the bright and airy “Clouds Over North East River.”

While the subject matter is certainly appealing and Huber's skill is obvious, it's the chance to pick up some great local art for less than $50 that makes this exhibit a must-see. You'll probably need to buy several of these little scenes, since you won't be able to narrow it down to just one favorite.

“50 Under $50” continues through April 16 at Bookplace (2373 Baltimore Pike, Oxford). The book shop and gallery is open Friday through Sunday. Call 717-715-4775 for more information.

To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email [email protected].