Passing Light: Works by Charles Goolsby and Peter Christian Johnson

Passing Light: Works by Peter Christian Johnson & Charles Goolsby

Opening Reception: Saturday, August 22, 3–6 PM

Exhibition Dates: August 22 – October 10, 2026

River Gallery is pleased to present Passing Light, a two-person exhibition featuring ceramic sculpture by Peter Christian Johnson and landscape paintings by Charles Goolsby. The exhibition opens with a public reception on Saturday, August 22, from 3–6 PM, and will remain on view through October 10, 2026.

Passing Light explores the ways light transforms our experience of place, material, and memory. Though working in distinctly different mediums, Johnson and Goolsby each investigate moments of transition—between permanence and impermanence, structure and atmosphere, observation and emotion.

Peter Christian Johnson's sculptural ceramics balance precision with unpredictability. Constructed from intricate architectural frameworks, his forms are dramatically enveloped by cascading glazes that appear to melt, flow, and settle over the rigid structures beneath. The resulting sculptures embody both control and chance, transforming familiar geometric forms into dynamic objects that evoke erosion, gravity, and the passage of time. Each work captures a fleeting moment where solid architecture appears suspended in motion.

Charles Goolsby's oil paintings inhabit the space between realism and abstraction, stillness and movement. Inspired by landscapes throughout his region and travels, his paintings transform observed places into psychologically charged environments. Sweeping brushwork, restrained color, and shifting light create scenes that feel both familiar and uncertain, inviting viewers to consider the emotional weight of the landscapes we inhabit. Through his expressive handling of paint, Goolsby explores themes of beauty, isolation, mystery, and the changing nature of place.

Together, Johnson's sculptural investigations of form and material and Goolsby's evocative landscapes create a compelling dialogue about transformation. Both artists reveal how light alters perception—whether cascading across glazed ceramic surfaces or illuminating expansive painted terrain—and encourage viewers to reflect on the fleeting moments that shape our understanding of the world.

River Gallery

19046 Old Detroit Rd Rocky River, OH 44116

www.rivergalleryarts.com

440-331-8406