In October of 2021, Gabriel Pons worked with Widewater Elementary School Art Instructor Courtney Hupman to create a 34-foot long mural in the school cafeteria. The concept was to create a panoramic view of the convergence of Aquia Creek and the Potomac River while layering historic and cultural figures as a means to celebrate the Widewater Region. The mural, titled “Sunrise at the Water’s Edge” was made possible through a grant from the Stafford County Museum and is just one of many murals executed in the county schools focusing on history and culture. The artwork also acts as a two-dimensional diorama, featuring insight to the people that make Stafford County so unique historically. See the key below.
Sunken Well "Otter" Mural Collaboration
Back in April of 2020, when Covid-19 was in full swing, Steve Cameli of The Sunken Well Tavern reached out to fellow artist Bill Harris and I about doing some murals in their windows since their dining area would be closed. We jumped at the chance to pitch in for a long-time friend and also do something that would lift the neighborhood’s spirits a bit. Our son, Diego wasn't going back to school, so he was recruited and we went to work! The mural panels presently adorn the side wall of the Well. Read the Freelance Star Article HERE.
Currents
Opening Reception: Friday, June 2, 6-9pm
Exhibition Dates: June 2-July 30, 2017
In this fish-themed exhibition, fine artist Joan Limbrick and ceramicist Scarlett Pons commemorate the form and grace of our fresh-water finned friends in their respective mediums of paint and clay.
Joan’s lush and colorful paintings are exemplary of her personality – joyful and celebratory. Her signature work combines sensual forms with an expressive, existential, and imaginative style.
Scarlett balances formal beauty with functionality by creating ceramic pieces inspired by nature. Her latest serving plate series boasts vibrant color and patterns with smooth arching shapes derived from fish silhouettes.
Join us in ushering in the summer with this exciting show featuring complimentary work from two of the city’s most prolific and dedicated artists.
Art Party at Sunken Well Tavern: Paintings by Gabriel Pons
Kick off the Memorial Day Weekend early on Thursday, May 22 (7-9pm) to join Gabriel Pons at The Sunken Well Tavern for a drink and to enjoy new artwork on canvas and skateboards. The art show is on display through June 26, 2014.
Adult Collage and Mixed Media 2013
There is a misconception that if you cannot draw well, then you are not artistic. In three 1.5 hour classes, adult students of all skill levels sharpened their skills in collage, stenciling, acrylic painting, and more. Instructor Gabriel Pons lead students from developing beginning ideas to executing mixed media artwork. Pulling imagery from magazines and cutting stencils are few of the techniques used in this class to create with. Students leave this class with a finished piece on canvas.
Want to expand upon your art-making skills or simply have fun creating something new? Click Here to view our current class schedule. For further questions, contact PONSHOP.
"Vivify" Mural Commission - Photos
Below is a chronology of the outdoor mural commission I completed for Vivify Burger & Lounge in Fredericksburg, Virginia. I worked with the clients (who also own Bistro Bethem across the street) to produce a custom painting that embodied the charge of the new eatery. The concept sketch basically sent me on the path of formalizing my idea for Vivify. "Vivify" means to bring movement and life to something. The owners' goal is to host a space that pulses with the energy of the city's downtown, and that is also reflected by the tastes and smells from the eatery and lounge. What better way to express the vibrance of the lounge than in a colorful "canopy" of words. The piece turned into a family crest of sorts and incorporated the Bethem's names around the center.
The rear of the restaurant opens up to a two-story patio space with stairs leading to a roof deck which provides a great view of the city. I was excited to work on such rich and fun project this summer. Thanks to the Bethem family for the opportunity and thanks to my assistant, Jeff Gulick, for his consistent help throughout.
September Group Show Opening Reception
September 6, 2013 marked PONSHOP Studio and Gallery’s “First Friday” opening reception. The gallery featured the latest works by PONSHOP artists Crystal and Kevin Rodrigue, Nicholas Candela, Jeremy Gann, Adam DeSio and Gabriel Pons. The gallery also exhibited photographs by Stephen Graham, ceramics by Scarlett Pons, the latest cute plush creations by Ashleigh Burbidge and mixed media creations by Leslie Brier. Below are some photographs from the evening.
October Art Exhibit featuring Ashleigh Dueker
PONSHOP Studio and Gallery announces their October “First Friday” opening reception on October 4, 2013 (6-10pm). The gallery will be premiering the artwork of Maryland-based artist, Ashleigh Dueker.
Ashleigh Dueker is a painter who draws creative inspiration from life experiences. She has lived in several countries in West Africa for two and a half years focusing on health and development work. Most of her recent work comes from the hardships faced from the famine, coups, and evacuation endured in Mali as recent as 2012. Her main goal when creating paintings is to inspire the viewer and encourage them to see their life in a different light.
Additional fine artists on exhibit include Crystal and Kevin Rodrigue, Nicholas Candela, Jeremy Gann, Adam DeSio and Gabriel Pons. In addition the gallery will be exhibiting photographs by Stephen Graham, ceramics by Scarlett Pons as well as the latest plush creations from Ashleigh Burbidge and mixed media assemblages by Leslie Brier.
PONSHOP gallery continues to feature over fourteen jewelers and artists who create fun personal accessories and over twenty other artists creating everything from fine art and ceramics to plush toys, clothing, and accessories for the home.
Exhibition Dates: October 4-27, 2013
Second Annual Art Attack Fredericksburg Event Announced
On Saturday, September 14, 2013 the Second Annual Art Attack Fredericksburg artists take to the streets of the historic downtown for a day-long live art demonstrations. (10am-4pm). Art Attack is a grassroots event organized by local artists to encourage the exposure and celebration of the region's vibrant art community. For one day, participating artists (aka recruits) will turn their studios inside out, ambushing the public streets with live art demonstrations.
Art demonstrations will take place primarily on the Caroline and William Street corridors in downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia. Visit Art Attack Fredericksburg on Facebook for more.
"June Group Show" Announcement
PONSHOP is excited to welcome a new-featured artist, Julie Maida, to the gallery. Creating everything from functional home goods to prints and paintings, her use of strong colors and elegant line work are sure to enhance any space. Also in the gallery are works from owners Scarlett and Gabriel Pons as well as signature paintings by Joshua Barber, Nicholas Candela, Jeremy Gann, and Ginger Huebner. Bringing an original touch to photography, Adam DeSio and Stephen Graham will have their latest images on display.
Join us Friday, June 1st from 6-10pm for a special evening of local art and enjoy the company of art lovers alike.
Opening Reception: Friday, June 1, 6-10pm
Exhibition Dates: June 1 - July 1, 2012
Urban Decay 3 Announced
Urban Decay is in its third year! PONSHOP is proud to announce themselves as one of the sponsors, aiding in bringing you another amazing art event. Gabriel Pons is one of the many featured artists for this exhibit and will join fellow artists Kenny Brown, James Walker, and RSIN in an exclusive Art Talk with the public (5-6pm), giving their insight on of the state of contemporary low-brow art from vinyl sculpture to painting. Join us at the opening reception on Saturday June 2nd at 5:00pm in the main gallery of the Lorton Arts Center. There will be music, food, entertainment, live artist demos, raffles, and of course, great art! Urban Decay III runs through June 24, 2012.
For more information and to stay up-to-date on news and events check out the Urban Decay Facebook Event Page. You can also read more at the Workhouse Arts Center Website.
"April Group Show" Announcement
For the month of April, PONSHOP Studio and Gallery will be featuring the work of a select collection of gallery artists. The opening reception will be held on “First Friday” April 6, from 6-9pm.
PONSHOP’s gallery will be displaying the latest work of owners, Scarlett and Gabriel Pons. Also included in this month’s exhibition are signature paintings by Joshua Barber, Nicholas Candela, and Jeremy Gann. Local photographers, Adam Desio and Stephen Graham complement the show with their images. And once more, Kenny Brown, Chance Kenyon, Grady Spades, Mike Tschirn and Elstabo adorn the walls with their New Brow inspired works.
Opening Reception: Friday, April 6, 6-9pm
Exhibition Dates: April 6th – 29th, 2012
"Indelible" Opening Reception: March 2, 2012
The opening reception of “Indelible” was a huge success. Thank you to all the participating artists and to those who came out to show their support. Below are photos from this evening’s event.
Participating artists include: Kenny Brown, Kelley Drake, Chance Kenyon, Grady Spades, and Mike Tschirn, Elstabo, and Adam DeSio
The show will run through April 1, 2012.
A Few Of Our Favorite Things
December 19, 2011: It has been an exciting couple of weeks here at the shop. We had a visit from the Claus family recently, popping in to spread some holiday cheer (and exchange some trade secrets). Below are some of the latest items in the gallery - check 'em out:
Comic Book Wallets by Leslie Brier, $18 each
Limited Edition Block Prints by Bill Harris, $75 each
PONSHOP iPhone Cases (4s/4), $42 each
Ceramic Snowflake Votives by Scarlett Pons, $12 each
Fiber Art Bracelets by Nicole Hart, $25 each
PONSHOP Featured Artist Interview: Ginger Huebner
Ginger Huebner, a good friend of Gabe and Scarlett from their days at Virginia Tech, is an artist based out of Asheville, NC. We're excited to have a few of her pieces here at the gallery, and our intern Sarah Dawes spent some time interviewing Ginger for the blog.
"Let's Walk Together" Collage, Encaustic on Wood 11"x10"
Ginger Huebner believes that life is full of stories, and it is through her art that she aims to translate events and emotions into visual understanding. Using mostly collage and chalk pastel, her work is based entirely on individual clients and their own journeys; it encompasses individual dreams, passions, and defining life moments. Having studied architecture at Virginia Tech, Huebner eventually came to realize that the confines of her concentration did not allow her the creative voice she was seeking. Through her art, Huebner is able to capture fleeting moments in a way that will enable others to learn, appreciate, and grow from them.
Encaustic painting – one of Huebner’s primary mediums – involves applying melted beeswax to a prepared surface, usually wood in Huebner’s case. Metal tools and special brushes are used to shape the wax while it’s still hot, and heat lamps or heat guns allow artists more time to work with the wax.
"Fall" Collage, Encaustic on Wood 7"x12"
Q: When and how did you start developing an interest in art?
A: I have always loved doing artistic activities. I remember having Trapper Keeper when I was younger (8 years old, I think?), that was filled with drawings, copies of pictures, things I would collect, etc... I spent a lot of time drawing and painting things I saw. It wasn't until college that my creative process really blossomed, as I began to understand composition and was encouraged to move beyond just what I saw toward what I could create.
Q: You live and work in Asheville, North Carolina. Can you give us an overview of Asheville’s art scene and your involvement in it?
A: Yes, I relocated to Asheville four years ago from Seattle. There is an amazing diversity of local artists and artisans scattered all around the Western North Carolina region. Asheville specifically has a highly concentrated district, the River Arts District (RAD) www.riverartsdistrict.com, which is a series of 15-20 former textile and industrial buildings, now filled with art studios with working artists. I have had a studio in the RAD since 2007 that I share with talented oil painter, Ralston Fox Smith (ralstonfoxsmith.com). Our building, Pink Dog Creative, www.pinkdog-creative.com, sits in the heart of the district, and also houses the Asheville Arts Council, renowned artist Randy Shull, and other talented and committed artists. The RAD is the epicenter of Asheville's art scene and is emblematic of what art (and all creative endeavors) means to Asheville and surrounding region. The RAD hosts a bi-annual Studio Stroll which over the course of the weekend invites the public to view and purchase work from the hundreds of artists housed in these studios. The art scene is a real source of pride for locals and an asset to this community.
In addition to my own studio work in the district, the school I founded, Roots + Wings School of Art, holds custom art studio sessions and art workshops at this location. Root and Wings School of Art serves in many capacities and offers classes by myself and other RAD artists, to kids, adults and families. It was my intent to bring together these talented artists and be the conduit that allows them to share their passion and skill with others.
Q: We have read about how you strive to represent events and emotions through your artwork. In terms of client commissions, what kind of interaction do you have with the clients?
A: When I am asked to do a commission, I work very closely with my client through the entire process. First, we begin with a conversation to explore their ideas for the piece. I ask for descriptive words, colors, dates, imagery that might be significant, places / maps, etc... Then I spend time creating a preliminary sketch with colored pencil and pen that my client can comment on. I then create the layout of the piece with actual imagery, text, etc... and send a photo of this to my client. Again, they are welcome to comment on changes they might like to see, or present new ideas that have been sparked by the process. Finally, I go ahead and create the final work. It is always a fulfilling and unique experience. For most artists, this may seem an unorthodox approach, but my work has always been about connections.
Q: You graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in architecture. How has your education led you in the direction of the work you’re doing today? To what extent has it assisted you in your artistic career?
A: My time at Virginia Tech's School of Architecture+Design was crucial to my development as an artist. I credit my years there with learning how to think creatively, learning how to truly see things differently, and developing confidence in my creative talents. Specifically, the combination of my second year professor Mark Blizzard's spontaneous gift of a set of chalk pastels along with learning from his inspiring teaching methods (and his own beautifully crafted drawings) sent me down a path that has led me where I am today. As my third, fourth and fifth years unfolded, my own 'drawings' became another language for expressing not only my studio projects, but translating other elements of my life. I don't think I have ever really verbalized this until now, but in many ways, my early professional career as an architect (listening to clients ideas, shaping them into a uniquely personal work of "art", letting them be an integral part of the creative process) has also shaped my artwork.
"Expand" Collage, Encaustic on Wood 15"x16"
Q: We have a number of your encaustic pieces here at the PONSHOP. Could you briefly touch upon why you chose this medium to work with? What is the process you go through for this type of work? How do you think this enhances your work in ways that other methods could not?
A: As my work has evolved, I have experimented with new ways to incorporate my collage elements. Encaustic provides a way to layer the collage elements with translucency as well as be a tactile protector of the piece. The process involves melting the medium, applying it with a brush, then re-heating it with a heat gun. You can infinitely adjust the texture and thickness of the encaustic medium. Since my work of collage and pastel is largely 2-dimensional, the addition of the encaustic medium adds dimension to the work that I could not otherwise achieve, as well as providing opportunities for carving into or adding texture.
Q: Throughout your years as a student and artist, did you have any mentors who assisted or influenced your work?
A: As I mentioned above, Professor Mark Blizzard was certainly one of my first mentors. The artwork he was creating at the time directly influenced my own experimentation. Also, I had the pleasure and privilege to meet and spend a weekend with Sambo Mockbee between my second and third years of school. He greatly influenced me on an emotional and 'bigger vision' level, which I will always carry with me. The final two years in school at Virginia Tech's Washington-Alexandria Architecture Consortium, Ron Kagawa and Susan Piedmont-Palladino were both elemental in moving my work beyond the pure emotional toward work with greater depth and clarity. Artists Romare Bearden and Joseph Cornell are meaningful inspirations.
Q: It seems that the work we have featured at the PONSHOP alludes to reflections on the environment and the natural world. Many of our patrons have sensed an environmental tone to your pieces. Can you give us any insight?
A: I have always had a great appreciation for whatever environment surrounds me. The natural world is a gift worth contemplating. I see the subtle and grand moments of life through the lens of the natural world and the human body. My work is a layering of my life story, my education as an architect, the joys and pains of the creative process, the connections to others and a reverence for the natural world.
Thanks to Ginger for all of her insight. If you're interested in viewing more of her work be sure to visit her website.
PONSHOP is on the Move
Scarlett and I are excited to announce that we’ve acquired a storefront in Downtown
August 2009: Mural Commission
August, 2009: I picked the hottest days of the year to get out there and do this mural commission in Falmouth, Virginia - but it was well worth it. Below are some images taken over that week. Thanks to our client, Professional Maintenance, and thanks to my assistant Jeff who whose help was exceptional. If interested in commissioning PONSHOP for any interior or exterior mural project - contact me here.
The completed piece....
Artists working to better their country through the construction and appreciation of art.Work In Progress
mixed media work in progress - August 14, 2009 (Detail) - click to enlargeThe Lost City #1 - Behind the Scenes
"The Lost City #1" (detail), Mixed Media on Wood, 12"x36" $800.
July, 2009: As a follow up to the "Pagoda" Skateboard Decks I initiated in June, above is a detail of my most recent painting, "The Lost City #1". As many of my friends and colleagues already know, my background in architectural drafting and model making was how I got into making stencils in the first place. By the same token, my architecture education made me pretty obsessive when it comes down to doing this stuff (painting, drawing,etc.). Below is the completed painting (left) with a composite drawing of my stencil layers (right). Click images to enlarge.
One thing I really enjoy about turning my sketches into a mixed media painting is that I can use all of my arsenal (collage, acrylic paint, spray paint) to achieve the desired image. In a lot ways, the mixed media painting has informed me on how I can approach the stenciled deck series differently.
"The Lost City #1" will be on display at Art First Gallery for the month of July - check it!
Latest Painting: "My Baby Wants to Rock and Roll #3"
Below is the most recent painting completed: "My Baby Wants to Rock and Roll #3." Many have seen and/or worn this graphic over the years, and I've always wanted to keep pushing it and explore some new aspects. I did this by building a wood panel and using collage (made from newspaper and magazine scraps as well as printed song lyrics). This led to some interesting conditions between the pattern and text in the background and the stenciled figure on top.
"My Baby Wants To Rock and Roll #3", Mixed Media on Wood Panel, 30"x30" SOLD (click image to enlarge)
"My Baby Wants To Rock and Roll #3" detail