By Sarah Hall
shall@salisburypost.com
Looking Glass Artist Collective, 405 N. Lee St., presents an exhibit by local artists throughout June.
A reception will be held 6-8 p.m. Saturday in the collective’s gallery to honor the artists featured as part of “In the City.” This exhibit accompanied Lee Street Theatre’s recent production of “Six in the City” which ended its run Saturday in the same gallery/theater space.
Artists whose work is featured in the exhibit are James Donaldson, Robert Briley Jr., Ellen Phillips, Jak, Sharon Forthofer, Cathy Matthews, Frances Taylor and Tamara Konovalova.
This exhibit also introduces LGAC’s new curator, Caren Briley. She is relatively new to the art field, having spent a career in banking.
Briley is a self-taught abstract artist. Her mediums are oil and acrylic on canvas and mixed media. A number of her works are currently on display in LGAC’s shop, which will also be open during the exhibit.
“I paint for the sheer fun of it,” Briley says, “and I feel my free spirit comes through in my painting style. I love to mix subtle tones with explosions of raw color. My paint brushes and knives are tools I use to scrape, sling and splatter color in random patterns of controlled confusion on texture canvases. I hope to display my inner energy, and I ask the viewer to use their minds eye to see what they will.”
Briley’s husband, Bob, is serving as assistant curator. His painting of a city skyline is a centerpiece of the upcoming show.
Robert Briley recently returned to drawing and painting after a long hiatus.
“Kids do that to you,” he says.
“I learned at an early age that if I wanted to really remember the world around me, I could capture things on paper or in clay. This evolved from pencil and paper sketches and super heroes in modeling clay into a love for all forms art.
“I took art classes in high school but I am mostly self-taught through trial and error. Today I work more in acrylic and oil on canvas when I get the urge, but will put pencil to paper and add pastel for color.
“I enjoy my artistic journeys as they relax me and expand the mind, dusting off the cobwebs of convention.”
The reception is free and the public is welcome.
For more information, call 704-301-5318 or contact cbriley59@yahoo.com.