MONROE - As a skilled metalsmith, Kirsten Skiles has the ability to make leaves, animals and even weeds rise out of the rigid surface of metals to form a life of their own.
This contemporary artist from De Soto will have her Iron Garden on display in the Monroe Arts Center's Frehner Gallery March 6-27. Using the ancient techniques of chasing and repousse, Skiles strives to express the ornate wilderness of river, garden and life. She "brings nature into the melodramatic realm, striving for the child's memory of a fairytale."
Skiles is an independent artist who creates her organic-themed, functional and sculptural work for residential and commercial clients. She has taught at a number of well-known craft schools, including Touchstone School of Crafts and Appalachian Center for Crafts and has exhibited in the United States, England and Canada. Her work is featured at the Department of Natural Resources' Visitor's Center at Itasca State Park in Minnesota and at St. Paul's Cathedral in St. Paul, Minn.
An opening reception, which is free and open to the public, is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 6 in the Frehner Gallery. During the Artist Gallery Talk from 5 to 5:30 p.m., she will speak about the inspiration and process behind her work and will open the floor for questions and discussion. This informal, come-as-you-are event is for art lovers of all levels.
The exhibit has been made possible by Monroe Arts Center Season Underwriters, BIG Radio - Green County Broadcasting and Monroe Publishing. Additional support for this exhibit was provided by Michael and Shelley Muranyi and Adair Price Najat.
This contemporary artist from De Soto will have her Iron Garden on display in the Monroe Arts Center's Frehner Gallery March 6-27. Using the ancient techniques of chasing and repousse, Skiles strives to express the ornate wilderness of river, garden and life. She "brings nature into the melodramatic realm, striving for the child's memory of a fairytale."
Skiles is an independent artist who creates her organic-themed, functional and sculptural work for residential and commercial clients. She has taught at a number of well-known craft schools, including Touchstone School of Crafts and Appalachian Center for Crafts and has exhibited in the United States, England and Canada. Her work is featured at the Department of Natural Resources' Visitor's Center at Itasca State Park in Minnesota and at St. Paul's Cathedral in St. Paul, Minn.
An opening reception, which is free and open to the public, is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 6 in the Frehner Gallery. During the Artist Gallery Talk from 5 to 5:30 p.m., she will speak about the inspiration and process behind her work and will open the floor for questions and discussion. This informal, come-as-you-are event is for art lovers of all levels.
The exhibit has been made possible by Monroe Arts Center Season Underwriters, BIG Radio - Green County Broadcasting and Monroe Publishing. Additional support for this exhibit was provided by Michael and Shelley Muranyi and Adair Price Najat.