Moving Heaven and Earth: an Invitational Show of Ten North Carolina Artists

The Hillsborough Gallery of Arts is pleased to present an invitational show, “Moving Heaven and Earth,” featuring the works of ten North Carolina artists. The show will run January 7th through February 9th, and a reception will be held on Jan. 31st from 6-9 pm.

The participating artists are: Jane Filer, Sarah Graham, Katie Hayes, Ian Herdell, Alexis Joyner, Ley Killeya, Oami Powers, Suzan Scribner-Reed, Darcy Szeremi, and Nadine Zenobi. This dynamic exhibition will include works in a variety of media—paintings, block prints, jewelry, wooden sculptures, graphite drawings, ceramic sculptures, and handmade wooden furniture.

Although there will be a rich variety of media and artistic styles represented in this show, a common denominator among all of the exhibiting artists is a dedication to creating works with great depth of meaning. The title of the show, “Moving Heaven and Earth,” is meant to encompass the range of their subject matter, from the earthy to the mystic, as well as express admiration for the artistic skill and the emotional energy shown by this talented group of creators.

Jane Filer’s acrylic paintings invite viewers into a world of what she describes as “magical realism,” featuring both real and imagined creatures in landscapes that are simultaneously familiar and fantastic. Jane says, “In our immediate experiences and memories are locked the sweetness of a moment and interesting animated visual impressions. I work with this to express my love and amazement for life.”

Sarah Graham’s painted abstract landscapes draw on her lifelong engagement with the natural world. Sarah writes, “I believe we take in natural beauty and goodness as we do food; it sustains us, it becomes us.” She imagines her paintings as the direct result of these moments. “They are thank you notes, love letters back to our generous, breathtaking, mysterious world.”

Katie Hayes draws on her Western North Carolina roots to create naturalist-inspired block prints. Her hand-pressed, limited-edition prints show respect to all creatures, from salamanders to crayfish to herons. Hayes created New South Pattern House, located in Hillsborough, NC, “to highlight the vibrant cities and amazing ecosystems of the Southeastern U.S.”

Ian Herdell uses wood to create his handmade furniture and artwork at his Hillsborough studio, Cambrian Company. Ian writes, “Through storms of sawdust I seek the stories that trees can tell. I strive to forge a connection between nature and human intention, making something new and beautiful to share.”

Alexis Joyner creates figurative wood carvings with an emphasis on familial relationships. “I find myself drawn to the special bond between mother and child,” Joyner notes. “I often address social issues and concerns and I like to gently remind young folk that they don’t need to reinvent the wheel.”

Ley Killeya uses acrylic paint and a range of printmaking techniques to create her abstract figurative paintings. Her pieces are meant to represent the body, “without clear markers of person or place,” instead allowing Killeya and the viewer to consider, “how our identities, and the ways others perceive them, are used to confer power, limit rights, exercise control, and interrogate identity.”

Oami Powers creates contemporary ceramic sculpture, installations, and graphite drawings, all of which are “inspired by personal history and a lifelong love for Myths and folklore.” Created with simple elements such as mud, fire, and graphite, her pieces “use gesture and expression to evoke the intimacy and complexity of the human experience.”

Suzan Scribner-Reed creates her mixed media paintings using multiple layers of acrylic paint, oil pastels, pencils, vintage papers, and wax on birch panels. Inspired by nature, poetry, and weathered surfaces, her pieces are meant to contain an element of mystery. Scribner-Reed writes, “Each layer and mark I make adds depth, history, and richness. I use line, form, color and unexpected imperfections to build a narrative that feels familiar to our own individual memories.”

Darcy Szeremi’s handcrafted sterling jewelry often tells stories, many of which feature animals or people who cavort around the pieces in poses that are meant to make the viewer smile. She is especially drawn to horses and cats for her animal imagery, and says that, “the people in my work are either dancing or reaching for stars, depending on my mood. I hope that my art brings joy.”

Nadine Zenobi’s interest in the healing arts influences her unique jewelry creations. She gives careful attention to the choice of stones and metals in her work, and takes inspiration from the natural world for her designs. Nadine is a painter as well as a jeweler, and one of her pieces in the show will feature a section taken from a painting that, “signals the energy of sound without boundary.”

Please join us as we welcome this talented group to the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts. Moving Heaven and Earth runs from January 7th through February 9th, with a reception during Hillsborough’s Last Friday Art Walk on Friday, January 31st from 6-9pm.

About the Gallery
The Hillsborough Gallery of Arts is owned and operated by 21 local artists and represents these established artists exhibiting contemporary fine art and fine craft. The gallery’s offerings include watercolor, oil and acrylic paintings, metal and figurative sculpture, ceramics, scratchboard, painted gourd sculpture, jewelry, glass arts, metals, encaustic, enamel, fiber arts, and handcrafted furniture. 121 N. Churton Street, Hillsborough, NC 27278. Phone: (919) 732-5001. The gallery’s hours are 10am-6pm Monday – Saturday, 12-4 Sunday. More information can be found on the HGA website: http://www.HillsboroughGallery.com.