Peeling the Onion: Stephanie Reilly's Multidimensional Collages Come to Pogacha Restaurants
Submitted by: Flash Media Services
2010-12-25 00:34:59
A Stephanie Reilly art form is a bit like an onion. On the surface, one may see some collaged words and pictures. After a second look, one will likely notice the layer upon layer of acrylic paint, decorated with various artistic knickknacks. Each look peels back a new layer. The Redmond, Wash., resident will display her show, "Thoughts from the Divine," Jan. 8 to March 5, 2011, at Pogacha of Issaquah, and from March 5 through April 30, 2011 at Pogacha of Bellevue.
Issaquah, WA (OPENPRESS) December 25, 2010 -- A Stephanie Reilly art form is a bit like an onion. On the surface, one may see some collaged words and pictures. After a second look, one will likely notice the layer upon layer of acrylic paint, decorated with various artistic knickknacks. A third glance may reveal more hidden pleasures: messages lurking in the background, colors missed before, thematic connections previously unseen. Each look peels back a new layer, giving the viewer more material to enjoy and to interpret.
The Redmond resident began making these textured canvas statements three years ago. Before that, she experimented in many mediums, progressing through stained glass, children's clothing and wire-wrapped jewelry. Reilly has discovered she has an eye and a hand for creating self-reflective art pieces and is pleased to present her second show at Pogacha restaurants.
"Thoughts from the Divine" will run Jan. 8 to March 5, 2011, at Pogacha of Issaquah, 120 NW Gilman Blvd. The show will move to Pogacha of Bellevue, 119 106th Ave NE, on March 5 and will run through April 30, 2011.
Using alphabet letters and found objects as her base, Reilly builds highly dimensional pieces on canvas, using layer-upon-layer of texture and color. Starting with an alphabetic letter, Reilly lets the background inspire her, building multi-layered works of art using thematically associated words and objects. Reilly likes to play with different materials such as varied acrylic medium, granules, and gold and silver leaf.
"I like a lot of texture. My pieces have lots of nooks and crannies," Reilly said.
These "nooks and crannies," create pieces that are multi-layered in both material and meaning.
"It is really fascinating that people will look at my paintings and everyone sees something different in them," Reilly said. "It's fun for me."
Following her Pogacha show last winter, Reilly began doing commission work. She now builds art forms for families, using family pictures, names, photos and other elements important to the client. She is also currently designing pieces for a business. Reilly hopes to devote even more time to her art this coming year.
For more information about the exhibit and Pogacha Restaurants, call 425-392-5550 or visit the web site at www.pogacha.com
About the Artist: Stephanie Reilly grew up on the East Coast and attended Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania. She earned her law degree from the University of Denver. Reilly has resided on the eastside since 1995 and now makes her home in Redmond with her husband and two children. She enjoys being a stay-at-home mom and hopes to devote more time to her career as an artist this year. In addition to pursuing her passion for creating non-traditional art, Reilly's hobbies include skiing, piano and reading. Reilly has also shown her work at Sorrento's at Redmond Ridge, Bellevue Art and Frame, Tully's in Belltown and Starbucks on the Sammamish Plateau. She will be displaying at Victor's Coffeehouse in Redmond following the Pogacha shows.
