Fragile Enchantments
A SUMMER SALON IN LIGHT AND SHADOW
ART AS FLEETING ENCHANTMENT IN A FRACTURED ERA
In an age marked by institutional friction, inherited division, and cultural fatigue, even a brief visit to a gallery can feel miraculous – a fleeting enchantment. A Summer Salon in Light and Shadow is an exhibition that embraces this miracle while recognizing its delicate vulnerability. The show brings together a diverse group of artists across mediums – sculpture, painting, printmaking, fiber art, drawing, and photography – in a salon-style presentation. What unifies these varied works is a shared tension between wonder and disquiet: moments of beauty pressed against unease, and mystery laced with uncertainty. Each artist invites viewers to experience astonishment and introspection in equal measure, reminding us that enchantment in art, though fragile, can still illuminate dark or weary times..
Enchantment in the arts happens when something catches you off guard — a painting, a song, a line of poetry — and it stops you in your tracks. It’s not about magic in the fairy tale sense, but about feeling deeply connected, surprised, or moved. It can be subtle: a color that hits just right, a face in a drawing that feels familiar, or a melody that brings up something you can’t explain. Part of an artist’s job is to offer that escape — to create a moment of wonder or reflection for people who may not feel creatively driven themselves. In that way, art becomes a kind of shelter, a spark, or a shift in perspective — a reminder that there’s still mystery and meaning in the everyday. Jill Carnes
