November 13, 2009: Our Town – OWU

Paintings by Barbara Frentsos Butler ’47 will be on display at Ohio Wesleyan University in two galleries Nov. 14-Jan. 26, 2010.

Photo courtesy of Barbara Frentsos Butler ’47

Paintings by Barbara Frentsos Butler ’47 Featured in Ohio Wesleyan Galleries
‘Rare Moments’ exhibition includes displays in Mowry, Beeghly

Delaware, Ohio, native Barbara Frentsos Butler ’47 says her works often evolve from studying shapes, lines, and textures, and often reflect the seasons and other nature themes.

An exhibition of her abstract paintings will be on display through January 26, 2010 at Ohio Wesleyan University in two locations: the Mowry Alumni Gallery in the Mowry Building and Gallery 2001 in the lobby of Beeghly Library.

A fine arts major at Ohio Wesleyan, Butler later received a master’s degree in education from Bowling Green State University. She has taught art classes at all levels, and her works are in private and public collections in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and France. In addition to paintings, her works include dyed and batiked (wax-resist dyed) fabrics, contemporary quilts and wall-hangings, and art created from self-made paper.

This acrylic painting by Barbara Frentsos Butler is titled “The Last Curtain.”

Image courtesy of Barbara Frentsos Butler ’47

While an OWU student, Butler says she learned the most from fine arts professor Jarvis Stewart. “He was one of the best teachers I had,” she says. “He gave parameters for projects, but I had to figure out how to get there by myself.”

She recalls being frustrated at the time, but says Stewart’s process helped break through creative barriers. Butler says she has used his techniques with her own students through the years.

Barbara Frentsos Butler will be available to meet with the public during a reception for her “Rare Moments” exhibit from 2-4 p.m. December 6 in the Mowry Alumni Center, 16 Rowland Ave.

The Mowry Alumni Gallery is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Gallery 2001 in Beeghly Library is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Both locations will be closed from December 24 through January 3, with reduced hours until January 11, when classes resume.

– Linda O’Horo