Top aviation/americana artist to appear at Gallery One

Internationally-acclaimed aviation artist William S.Phillips will appear at Gallery One, Mentor OH, Saturday, April 14 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. to open an exhibition of his works which will hang thru June. He will lecture informally at 2 p.m.

Phillips grew up loving art, but never thought he could make it his livelihood. He majored in criminology, worked as a firefighter and had been accepted into law school when four of his paintings sold. That was all the incentive he needed to begin work as a fine art painter.

Now Phillips is the favorite aviation artist for many American heroes and the nostalgic landscape artist of choice for many civilians.

“Bill’s strengths as a landscape painter and his technical and historical knowledge of aviation are credited with giving his aviation works unparalleled accuracy,” said Alan Brown, Gallery One president. “And since he expanded into Americana images, a whole new audience has discovered his talents.”

Phillips’ list of honors and awards is legendary. In 1986, the National Air and Space Museum presented a one-man show of his works. His original paintings are still featured there. He joined the service in 1988 and became a US Navy combat artist, winning the Navy’s Meritorious Public Service Award and the Air Force Sergeants’ Americanism Medal. Later, he was honored by the National Park Service.

Phillips’ Gallery One appearance will be marked by the display and sale of his canvas “A Prayer for My Brother” which since 9/11 has raised money for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. New canvas giclée print editions along with older rare works and a large original painting of “Advantage Eagle” will be exhibited.

Gallery One is located at 7003 Center St. (Rt. 615) between Rtes. 90 and 2. The gallery is open Monday thru Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 440.255.1200 or 800.621.1141 or visit www.galleryone.com.