Page Schley (L) and Connie Keetle (R) at Frame Gallery Gifts & Art

Please join us for a reception honoring mother-daughter artists Page Schley and Connie Keetle on Friday, October 9, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.

Many of you already know Connie as one of our own FrameGals, and we are especially excited to welcome her mother, Page, to the gallery. Together, they'll be on hand to talk about their work and the creative connection between two generations.

Their exhibition, "Side by Side: Page Schley and Connie Keetle, a Mother-Daughter Exhibition," features landscapes and florals ranging from abstraction to realism, created in acrylics, oils, walnut ink, and Dr. Ph. Martin's Tech Drawing ink. Presented together, their pieces offer a special look at each woman's distinctive artistic voice.

Stop by to meet Page and Connie and celebrate the opening of their exhibition, on view at Frame Gallery from October 2 to October 31.

About the Artists

Page Schley

“My body needs to radiate; flowers express this feeling. In the flower bursts the universe” — Apphia Page

Apphia Page Anderson Schley, born in South Carolina in 1934, is the daughter of a Naval Officer. As a child, she moved many times with her family. When her father was away, he would write her letters with illustrations for her enjoyment and education. Her daughter, Connie Keetle, sees his mark-making and penmanship in Schley’s work.

Making art and intellectual curiosity have always been keystones in Schley’s life. She studied art, archaeology, and education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As an adult, she participated in art workshops wherever she lived, enjoyed plein air painting with fellow artists, and went on archaeological field trips.

While raising four children, Apphia Page taught herself garden design and science, pottery, crafts, painting, cooking, along with nutritional science, and so much more. She has always followed her passions and created in media that worked best for her in every life phase and living situation. Her love of nature, and in particular flowers, is so very clear in this body of work. Her talent, intellect, grit, and heart continue to amaze her daughter.

Connie Keetle

“Some have called my art spiritual, some have called it personal, some haven’t been called at all.”

Connie Keetle found this quote in one of her mother’s personal art books that she printed a few years ago. Keetle observes that she could have used this perspective at ages 9 and 45. Page probably didn’t write this quote until Keetle was a mother herself, trying to figure out art and life, too.

Keetle’s childhood held magic in the ordinary and extraordinary because of her mother and their shared love of nature. Artistic expression has found its way into almost every aspect of life in their home.

At times, being the daughter of an artist was intimidating when Keetle was young. Nonetheless, she also studied art in college. As an adult, while raising two wonderful humans, Keetle began to paint as time allowed. She also participated in art workshops along the way. Some were pivotal in her artistic journey, just as some were for her mother.

Keetle is so deeply moved that, after so many years apart, they are side by side in art and life in Sewanee.