MONROE - A gallery opening reception for the duo exhibit "Reflections of Life" by Monroe pottery artist Rich Hager and Belleville printmaker Julie Sutter-Blair will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 10 in the Wellington and Muranyi Galleries at Monroe Arts Center, 1315 11th Street.
A brief gallery talk will begin at 5:30 p.m. This exhibit will be on display from Nov. 10 through Jan. 12.
The works in Hager's exhibit, which are primarily from his Earthscape, Ozone Layer, Aurora and Krabi series, reflect things he has seen in his travels and experiences. The Earthscape and Ozone Layer series are a progression reflecting the cutting away of the earth, exposing layers of strata, much the same as if a large core sample were taken from the upper atmosphere down to the center of the earth. The Aurora series is dedicated to his youngest son and his excitement in seeing the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis. The Krabi series of sculpture reflects the rock formations jutting from the waters of the Strait of Malacca, Thailand.
Hager is currently working with the raku firing technique, which makes each piece one-of-a-kind.
The inspiration for Sutter-Blair's artwork is found in the natural world and the rituals of daily life, such as creating art, gardening and viewing the changing seasons. Her prints and drawings originate from those passions and the impermanence of those worlds.
Each of her prints, especially the etchings, provides an opportunity to incorporate detail and texture using a variety of techniques. Her etchings, dry-points and mezzotints are intaglio prints. These are made on copperplates, making each one original and slightly different from the other. To add color, she paints each one with watercolor. On a few of the plates, colored ink is used during the printing process.
The reception and ongoing exhibit are free and open to the public.
A brief gallery talk will begin at 5:30 p.m. This exhibit will be on display from Nov. 10 through Jan. 12.
The works in Hager's exhibit, which are primarily from his Earthscape, Ozone Layer, Aurora and Krabi series, reflect things he has seen in his travels and experiences. The Earthscape and Ozone Layer series are a progression reflecting the cutting away of the earth, exposing layers of strata, much the same as if a large core sample were taken from the upper atmosphere down to the center of the earth. The Aurora series is dedicated to his youngest son and his excitement in seeing the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis. The Krabi series of sculpture reflects the rock formations jutting from the waters of the Strait of Malacca, Thailand.
Hager is currently working with the raku firing technique, which makes each piece one-of-a-kind.
The inspiration for Sutter-Blair's artwork is found in the natural world and the rituals of daily life, such as creating art, gardening and viewing the changing seasons. Her prints and drawings originate from those passions and the impermanence of those worlds.
Each of her prints, especially the etchings, provides an opportunity to incorporate detail and texture using a variety of techniques. Her etchings, dry-points and mezzotints are intaglio prints. These are made on copperplates, making each one original and slightly different from the other. To add color, she paints each one with watercolor. On a few of the plates, colored ink is used during the printing process.
The reception and ongoing exhibit are free and open to the public.