Fredericton artist back home with solo exhibit

After two years  spent recovering from  two concussions and a heart attack, artist Craig Smith Dow is back  in Fredericton with his new exhibit, Artif(r)acture.

The Fredericton native will be showcasing 20 acylic and oil paintings at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre’s Glencross Gallery from Sept. 19 to Oct. 22.

The solo exhibit will focus on the the “physiological and psychological” properties of art and the heart  said Smith Dow.

“Physiological is the mental part of  illness and dealing with that. I’m just getting back into art.  I didn’t paint for two years because I didn’t have the mental capacity to do it,” said Smith Dow.

“Now I’m getting it back and accomplishing something. Mentally it’s been a really rough road to get to the stage I’m at. That is the psychological part as well.”

He’s a self-taught  artist who continues to learn as he goes along. He’s spent most of his career as a photographer for advertising companies in Toronto.

“He took journalism and photography. Education is important but it’s important to go beyond that,”  said Andrea Dimock,  Smith Dow’s wife. “He saw that he couldn’t express himself like he wanted to in photography and self-taught himself into painting and continues to learn.”

Planning for this exhibit has taken almost a year. The pieces he’s chosen will be a mixture of new pieces and ones he’s had for nearly 15 years.

“It’s been nerve wracking. You always think it’s easy.”

Admission to the exhibit is free and it will take place from  5:30 p.m to 7 p.m.