"Oscar Wilde may have been right that “Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life,” but two new exhibitions at the Tory Folliard Gallery give us two new reasons to be impressed by the power of art to imitate life.

“I am still fascinated by the old simple idea of resemblance,” says sculptor Ron Isaacs, “that an object made of one material can take on the outward appearance and therefore some of the ‘reality’ of another.” Over the course of his 30-year career, Isaacs has perfected the art of imitation—and with the most improbable materials. In the hands of this master of deception, wood is made to resemble the flowing folds of fabric. The artist’s impish and masterful touch is on display in “Other Selves: New Trompe l’Oeil Painted Constructions.”

In “Urban Landscapes,” painter Doug Hatch continues his ongoing study of the “simple complexities” of everyday life. While Hatch’s canvasses capture moments in time, they are primarily inspired by the hustle and bustle of city life. Hatch has an eye for moments of quiet drama and he renders them with a fidelity that infects the viewer with a sense of anticipation for the changes to come. One is almost surprised, for instance, when the painted traffic light refuses to turn green.

“Urban Landscapes” and “Other Selves: New Trompe l’Oeil Painted Constructions” open on Friday, April 17 with an artist’s reception from 6-9 p.m."

Article excerpt from Shepherd Express. The original article is by Tyler Friedman. Read the complete article at Shepherd Express's website.