‘The Gallery’ to exhibit new work by Girard this month

PALMER — A new exhibit of paintings at “The Gallery” in Palmer explores the similarity of Alaska and Italy. While attending Art Center College of Design more than 20 years ago Douglas Girard saw a travel book about the Dolomites region of the Alps in the northern part of Italy. The dramatic spires that rise abruptly from rolling farmland instantly appealed to him. The mountains seemed like huge cathedrals, more so than any other mountains he had ever seen.

“I had tried, unsuccessfully, to find substitutes for this strange, mysterious landscape that I had seen in college. While I found much beauty in my wanderings in Alaska there was something missing and in the summer of 2013 I realized what it was.”

He decided to travel to the Dolomites in search of the mountains, the history, myths and especially sacred sites. After winning an art competition, he spent 21 days in September and October 2013 exploring the landscape, camping every night, and drawing and painting during the day.

During the journey he painted more than 60 small painting studies and took more than 6,000 photographs.

Back in Alaska he said he has spent the last year putting some of these ideas on canvas.

A show of 15 new paintings and many studies of Alaska and Italy will be on display for the month of December at “The Gallery” in Palmer. A reception is from noon to 4 p.m., Dec. 13 at The Gallery.