The C. Ford Riley Original Art Collection will be exhibited from May 3 to June 29 at the Gateway Bank Art Gallery, located on the second floor.
One of the most intriguing features of the exhibit is that all art pieces are for sale. In the past 10 years, fine art has increasingly become a form of investment. According to the international accounting and consulting firm Deloitte Luxembourg, art is now seen not only as an object of pleasure but as a new alternative asset class with business opportunities. The beauty of buying fine art as an investment is the ability to put your valued pieces on display for enjoyment. The paintings in Gateway Bank will be priced from $1,500 to $50,000.
The gallery comprises the collection of Alan McRae of McRae Interests, Inc. and will feature 30 to 40 paintings by Riley. The painter’s work has been recognized at national and international art competitions, including the Ducks Unlimited Art Auction, the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, the Federal Duck Stamp Competition and the Southern Watercolor Society exhibition.
Riley’s paintings depict nature in dramatic strokes of watercolor, oil and acrylic. In 1983, Riley’s painting of “Cooper’s Hawk and Fall Leaves” was selected for “Birds in Art,” the world’s most prestigious bird art exhibition sponsored by the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin. His pieces are in art galleries, institutions and the homes of prominent civic leaders, including several U.S. senators and representatives.
“C. Ford Riley is a native Floridian. The artwork that’s going to be there is representative of what he’s done all his life,” says Tom Ingram, Gateway Bank’s Chief Executive Officer.
Riley is an ardent conservationist who has spent his life wandering the backwoods and byways of his home studying birds and their environment. His studio is located on the banks of the St. John’s River in Jacksonville, where Riley observes the flora and fauna.
“I paint only the things I’m familiar with. If I can’t smell it or feel it, I can’t conceivably paint it,” the artist has said. “I paint my area—the South. I was born and grew up in Florida, and I spent most of my life studying the constant evolutions here.”
The paintings represent all parts of Florida and reflect the gorgeous and verdant landscapes of our coasts. Visitors at Gateway Bank will witness the rich and incredible art of Riley and have the option to enjoy his paintings in their home.
C. Ford Riley Original Art
Gateway Bank Art Gallery
Public Exhibit May 3-June 29
1632 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
(352) 368-3756
For information please contact:
Lee Replogle
(352) 615-6272
