Bob Neely’s artwork will be on display at kiveo, located at 78 N. Trade Street in Tryon, during the Tryon Gallery Trot Saturday, Aug. 20.

In addition to kiveo, the Upstairs Artspace, Skyuka Fine Art, Richard Baker’s studio, Tryon Painters and Sculptors and Vines and Stuff will feature a wide variety of art on display from 5-8 p.m.
Neely is a Tryon artist who came onto the art scene about five years ago. Neely first become known for his detailed abstract pieces that can best be described as modern day pointillism. Each painting is designed precisely, and the base colors are applied.Following that initial step each area of the painting is completely covered with tiny dots of paint that are applied one at a time with the point of a nail. Two nails are used to accomplish two different size dots. The big dots are approximately 1/16” in diameter and the small ones are the size of a pin head. In a 20 X 24 canvas there are estimated to be 25,000 dots and to complete a piece takes approximately six to eight weeks.
Neely’s more recent works include a series of outdoor abstract cement sculptures that include the use of stained glass. In addition, he has recently completed a series of indoor wooden sculptures that include the use of flat panels and dowels to form the shape of the pieces. Many of these pieces are done in black and white and some pieces include up to 400 dowels.
Currently, Neely is focusing on combining his use of color with his understanding of texture and design in three-dimensional wall pieces. In one style he combines the pointillist technique with multidimensional pieces of wood to form intricate textured results. The other style that Neely is currently using includes wooden pieces of varying depth and different colors to form optical effects. The piece currently being shown at kiveo contains 195 pieces of individually painted wood. Currently in the works is a new piece that contains 305 pieces of wood, and a future piece will probably exceed 400 pieces.
Neely’s approach to art is to create work that is different from anything that he has ever seen. He is self taught and has never had an art lesson. When asked why he has not sought training, Neely said he does not want to learn how to do what others do but instead wants to do what no one else has done.
Neely moved to Tryon in 1980 to work for Southern Mercerizing Company, and went on to serve the community in a variety of ways. He eventually became a Tryon Town councilman and eventually mayor of Tryon for four terms.
In the early 1960s Neely worked for DuPont in New York City and was able to spend time in some of New York’s finest museums. That exposure, combined with Neely’s time working in dye plants gave him both an exposure to fine art and the ability to understand and use colors. Neely’s mother was a painter and his father was an expert dyer, and his first job was running dying machines at age 17. His final job was vice president of Dixie Yarn’s package dyeing and mercerizing operations that included Southern Mercerizing and Chattanooga Finishing.
Neely said his goal is to create works that stir the imagination and senses of the viewer through the use of color, texture and detailed design.

– article submitted
by Elizabeth DeChant