Three regional artists’ diverging styles, along with a group show, meet in a challenging exhibition that highlights the juxtaposition of contrasting elements, challenging the viewer to explore the concept of co-existing contrasts that present an array of conflicts.
This exhibition explores how artists arrange elements in their work to depict the complex dynamic relationships between distinctly different elements and ideas.
Waterworks Visual Arts Center, 123 E. Liberty St., will host an opening reception for the exhibition titled “Restructure: Contrast and Balance” from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. Light refreshments will be served.
The free event will include informal gallery talks with the artists starting at 5 p.m.
Here’s a look at what you can expect to see:
Durham artist Brett Baker paints in oils on canvas.
His paintings are dense, thick abstract matrixes of interlocking marks, rows of vertical and diagonal dashes. He looks at the thickness of the paint and the color relationships to achieve his finished artwork.
In his small paintings, Baker uses little to no medium so that the viewer is presented with full-bodied layers of oil color.
Chris Nitsche, of Savannah, Ga., builds sculptures that evoke the visual and metaphorical attributes of ships; a pursuit he started in 1995. Nitsche’s methods in building sculptures fall into two distinct processes: found object constructions and welded steel works.
Philadelphia artist Leslie Pontz creates unique sculpture by crocheting wire and monofilament forms and combining them with iron and fiber elements. The result is non-traditional fiber sculptures that challenge the senses and the mind.
A group show by faculty and students of the Fine Arts Department of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.
They present an array of paintings and photography.
Faculty artists include Lino Azevedo, Jonathan Church, Peter Goff, Rachel Goldstein, Stephen Hayes, Jonathan Hoffman, Anna Kenar, Francine Kola-Bankole, Andrew Leventis, Jenn Selby, Jerome Sturm and Lorraine Turi.

The exhibition will be on display through Feb. 1, 2014.
Visit waterworks.org for more information and a list of gallery hours.