Painting the Tuscan sun

It’s an interesting turn when you walk into a gallery and see two popular local artists’ names with a twist—one’s last name being combined with the other’s. After years of gallery-goers being used to seeing the names Joseph Bellacera and Paula Wenzl, it’s a bit surprising to see the two names in one show as a married couple. Visually, however, it makes perfect sense, and the show, titled Tuscan Dreams, which runs through December 10 at the Barton Gallery, illustrates that for art enthusiasts, the pairing makes sense. Bellacera and Wenzl (now Wenzl Bellacera) always have had a similar approach toward their work, with a slant toward atmospheric landscapes and cityscapes. This show takes it a step further, featuring work that the two created from a trip taken together to Italy, with some of the works being collaborations. The work is as lush and rich as the area it depicts. The gallery is located at 1723 I Street.