Come meet artist Mary Dorsey Brewster at the gallery reception for her new exhibit, “Pilgrim Steps: Glimpses of the Journey.” Friday, Jan. 10, 5 to 7 pm.

Not simply a collection of the artist’s work, these oil paintings are a visual transcription of the pilgrimage process and the physical reality of moving across the landscape on foot. This exhibit showcases two of Mary’s favorite pilgrimages: Camino de Santiago in Spain and St. Cuthbert’s Way in Scotland.

An architect and founding partner of Brewster Thornton Group Architects, Mary painted alongside her professional work for more than 20 years. In 2022, she retired to paint and travel – including more walks and pilgrimages – full time.

Painting allows Mary to be both participant and creator in the visual landscape. The act of observation lets her move from the specific to the transcendent. The plastic nature of oil paints enables her to sculpt these scenes into being – carving out light and dark, positive and negative spaces. The lights and darks illuminate patterns that tie the scene together. The layering and texturing of paint mirrors the process of human life. She arrives at each image by arranging and balancing, stating, removing, and restating. Each work is an experiment to see what she can discover inside the edges of her work. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Mary is an Exhibiting Artist at the Providence Art Club and has shown her work throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Presentation about the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage on Sunday, Jan. 12, 12 noon

The exhibit will be on display from January 8 through February 2.