Our winery houses a 1,500 square foot art gallery featuring the paintings and photography of James Frey, Trisaetum’s owner and founder. 

Frey began taking and developing his own photos at the age of 12.  Three years later, he had begun working as a newspaper photojournalist and by the age of sixteen became the youngest recipient to receive an award from the California newspaper association for his work.  He continued to work as a photojournalist in order to pay his way through college.

In his late twenties, Frey turned to painting and developed a passion for abstract expressionist works.  His paintings of rich, deep hues and vibrant contrast create a powerful sense of color, shape, and energy.  In order to create a greater tactile quality, at times Frey likes to incorporate vineyard cuttings and vineyard soil into a piece.

Artist Statement:  “When I begin a piece, I have a sense of what I’m hoping to translate onto the canvas.  I first build my own canvas so that I can control the exact shape and size of the piece.  Ample time is dedicated to mixing paints until I believe I have the right balance for the composition and the particular color theory I envision.  Many of pieces involve layering color upon color and working non-stop so that the still wet paint can be blended on the canvas.  What starts as a deliberate and planned composition begins to become more and more spontaneous as the painting develops.  As I become fully engaged with the composition I can feel how each new stroke or color is bringing the painting to life.  At times, there is an instinctive understanding of the next action to take.  I hope others will be intrigued by the form, color, and composition of my work---and even find some eliciting an emotional response."

Please call the winery at 503-538-9898 to inquire about availability of artwork shown on this web-site.

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SELECTED WORKS FROM CURRENT EXHIBITION