“Colorful Spirit”
Lee Boyer, Michael Hoag, Evelyne Tardy, and Poet Natalie Kettleson
At Amara Yoga & Arts, Lincoln Square, Urbana
Saturday, February 16, 6:00–8:00 p.m.
The artwork in this show is all about color. Come meet the artists and view their work at the Opening Reception Saturday, February 16, 6:00–8:00 p.m. This is a child-friendly event, so bring the kids. The show will be up through April 11, 2013. The work can be viewed Monday–Thursdays, 4:15–5:30 p.m., or Saturdays from 8:00 a.m.–12 noon.
About the Artists:
Lee Boyer has shown paintings locally at Cinema Gallery, Beads n Botanicals, The Urbana Free Library, and Carle Clinic Urbana on Windsor. In 2011, Lee teamed with other local artists and the public on the Social Heroes and Change Makers Community Collaborative Painting Project hosted by Amara Yoga & Arts. Murals by Lee can be seen at Lincoln Square Village and Phillips Recreation Center. Lee has worked as a theatrical scenic artist and stage designer. His backstage credits include Scenic Charge Artist for the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Station Theatre, Parkland College, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Nickelodeon Television, the Detroit Auto Show, the feature films The Hoax and A Dog Year, and Lil’Kim’s video “Lighters Up.”
Michael Hoag is an artist living in east central Illinois. He has shown his work in Philadelphia, Chicago, and most recently in Champaign at Parkland College. Michael says this about his work:
I paint using dual layers. Sometimes the viewer can separate the layered images from each other but often the layers merge and become very abstract. The first layer is an array of symmetrical colored lines. I try not to paint artfully but rather with a certain edge. The second layer is a portrait of a man or a woman. I want the portrait to have a certain realistic, complex personality and depict someone who can act like a saint one minute and a two-year old the next. The jumbled lines of the first layer add a chaotic edge to the portrait while the portrait adds an organic note to the abstract lines and colors. Because the chaotic lines are symmetrical, the brain detects an order in the chaos and infuses complexity to the portrait. There is a push and pull between order and chaos, between the two year-old and the saint within us.
Evelyne Tardy will be showing paintings and has this to say about her work:
It is impossible for me to imagine a world in which art is not valued or appreciated. Art has always played a critical role in my life, nurtured lovingly by my parents and encouraged by my teachers. Art was a vehicle for me to relate the world, to express feelings I had no words for, and to provide me with a sense of self-esteem I so desperately needed when growing up. As an artist, I seek to express myself primarily through line, shape and color. My mandalas are meant to convey a feeling of peace and to serve as a meditation tool. I am naturally attracted to bright, bold colors, and I work in acrylic paint, and watercolor paint. I also make metal, ceramic, and beaded jewelry, as well as stained glass pieces.
Natalie Kettleson will be sharing her poetry and has this to say about her work:
I was first interested in writing short stories and poetry in high school. My love for poetry again returned a couple years later after my father died in 2009. It was for me a personal way to come to terms with his death. Later, my writing was more focused on positive changes in my life, including my fiance. I’m truly inspired by abstract poetry that show lots of color and imagery.