Magnolia House Custom Framing Shop on Main Street in Fuquay-Varina features local artists each month. Shirley Hunsberger has been Magnolia’s House Custom Framer since 1994. Each month Shirley puts out a call to all local artists who would want to display their work in her window. Unlike some shops where artists can display their work, Shirley does not charge commission on the profit the artist receives.
For the upcoming month of June, Gesine Noonan has the opportunity of displaying her work at Magnolia House Custom Framing. Gesine likes to paint portraits, mono-prints, etchings, and tiles using oils, charcoals and pastels. The style Gesine uses could be described as an impressionistic style and sometimes it comes close to an expressionistic style.
Gesine was born and raised in Halle an der Saale, Germany. While in Germany, she became a kindergarten teacher and an after-day-school teacher. After coming to the United States, she resided in Washington, D.C., for 40 years where she became a registered copyist at the National Gallery of Art. In Washington, she entered numerous contests and won a few awards. Gesine then took diverse art courses in Northern Virginia College where she learned a variety of art such as printmaking, drawing, painting and design.
“The human face and the stories they tell inspire me the most.” Gesine explains, “In a portrait I try to make the background or the way my subject position themselves tell something about them. Even in landscapes, the moods are important to me.”
She was a founding member of one of the first co-op galleries in Alexandria, Va., close to the Torpedo Factory after which Artspace in Raleigh is modeled after. The co-op gallery west she also helped establish with nine other artists in 1979 which is still going strong.
Since coming to North Carolina, she has been more involved with her grandchildren. Gesine also became very interested in designing her own garden. She said, “since my garden is almost complete I plan to work on beautifying my home and work toward another show. I also plan to work more consistently.”
Gesine has been living in Fuquay-Varina for six years. While in North Carolina she has entered just one contest and took first prize at the Apex Cultural Center for her entry. She has been painting for more than 55 years.
Gesine’s goal as an artist is to show the beauty in everyone’s face and soul while doing portraits, as well as showing the beauty in everything around her. If you are interest in seeing some of Gesine’s work you can stop by Magnolia House Custom Framing Shop at 218 S. Main Street or find her on facebook at gesinen@facebook.com. You can also contact her by email at gesinen@msn.com.
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