Watercolors featured in library art exhibit

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Through Feb. 28, the Ponte Vedra Branch Library is featuring watercolor paintings by noted artist Arlette Heise Gerlach of Jacksonville, originally of Stuttgart, Germany.

The pieces, exhibited in the entrance hall, hail from the early 2000s when Gerlach was living in Southern California. Primarily a figure painter, she did several works depicting women from the Latin American community. Also, there are the two surviving tapestry pieces, which depict pictographs; most of that series has long been sold.

The highly stylized paintings on exhibit had been misplaced for many years, only to be found about two years ago.

“I couldn’t find them in New York, where I lived,” Gerlach said. “Then, I was able to find them here in Jacksonville, all the way in the back (of her garage) where I had a bunch of boxes. They were hidden about 20 years.”

The paintings remain as vibrant and fresh as though painted last week.

A visit to a Native American community inspired the tapestries.

“I met this very nice old Native American Indian lady who showed me all her tapestries, which were actually made into rugs, rather than paintings,” Gerlach said. “I asked her whether I could emulate them through my paintings, and she was very happy.”

Gerlach’s father was a landscape artist after the end of World War II and also carved the frames, sometimes applying thin layers of silver and gold.

Gerlach had her first taste of artistic success when, in elementary school, she entered a contest, painting a Christmas scene. But instead of the traditional fir, she painted a palm tree — something she’d never actually seen in person. The painting won first place.

Later, she was a guest student at the Scuola di Bel Arte Napoli in Naples, Italy. She went on to study further in Germany and while living in New York City became a life member of the Art Students League of New York.

While living in the Los Angeles area, she showed her work in Beverly Hills and sold to Martin Landau, Connie Stevens and other famous stars.

Today, she can be found at the North Beaches Art Walk on the third Thursday of each month. While she paints in a variety of mediums, she still works in watercolor. A favorite subject for commissions are pets.

A “meet the artist” event is planned from 5 to 7:45 p.m. Jan. 28 at the library in Ponte Vedra, located at 101 Library Blvd.