A splash of wine grape-inspired color next up at Newberg's Art Elements gallery

Art Elements gallery’s latest exhibit, due to continue through Aug. 10, is in keeping with an integral component of the greater Newberg area, namely wine.

“Vitis Vinifera,” which translates to wine vine, is a collection of paintings by artist James Frey and aspires to “welcome the beauty and wonder of the spring season through the eyes of a winemaker,” a release from First Street gallery announced.

“Following the fall grape harvest each year, the vineyard goes dormant and the vines begin to store energy for the winter months,” Frey said in the release. “The potential of the next vintage lies buried deep within the grapevine until the ground slowly begins to warm in the spring. After long months of no activity, this latent vitality explodes from the vine as buds break from their winter sleep and a new vintage burst forth.”

Frey knows of what he speaks as he divides his time between painting and winemaking. He looks to those two disciplines, the release said, in order to capture “this explosion of energy from the vine” in his newest series, "Vitis Vinifera."

“To the naked eye, the springtime bud break produces simple yellow-green leaves and tiny pink clusters,” the release said. “But to the eye of a winemaker this metamorphosis represents a wild kaleidoscope of colors as the complex and wonderful potential of a new vintage finds a beginning.”

An artist reception is set for 2 to 4 p.m. June 22 at the gallery, 604 E. First St., and attendees can chat with Frey while knoshing on charcuterie and sparkling wine refreshments.

For more information, call gallery manager Sarah Silva at 503-487-6141.