Mica Gallery Presents Two Featured Artists in June

 

Mica Gallery - the members owned cooperative fine craft gallery in downtown Bakersville, NC presents a special “Featured Artists” exhibit in the month of June with the work of two of its member artists, Sondra Dorn and Gertrude Graham Smith.

For her exhibit, Dorn will share a sampling of work from a series entitled “Imaginary Topography: Daily Paintings”.

 “A few years ago I took time to try out some new materials and ideas,” Dorn states. “I started small, mostly working on a TV tray from the couch. That began my series of ‘Daily Paintings’.  I used materials new to me: water-soluble graphite, color pencils and ink sticks, Micron pens and watercolor paints, which led to some very fun discoveries. I enjoyed the small format as well since I could finish a piece within the same day.”

Dorn later returned to these works and continued by scanning them into her computer. “I focused in on details, removed color and built up a whole new series of black and white compositions and abstractions generated from the original.  Similar but different!”

Mica member Gertrude Graham Smith will exhibit a special collection entitled  “Baskets” - clay vessels with handles over the top.

She notes, “Because my pottery celebrates the soft, tactile, responsive nature of porcelain clay, as it's thrown on the potter’s wheel, I find the form of baskets especially satisfying - a handle directly invites the hand to touch.”

Smith fires her pots to a very high temperature inside a soda kiln, where flames decorate textured surfaces and glazes respond with brilliance to the kiln’s atmospherics. She says, “These baskets remind us to enjoy life's pleasures - especially the senses. A piece of pottery filled with fruit or flowers is a fragrant and colorful delight.”

Mica showcases the craft work of its 15 artist-members including sculpture, glass, jewelry, fiber, wearables, painting, and functional pottery. This extraordinary collection, enhanced by a yearlong rotation of guest artists and the welcoming and beautiful setting, make Mica a must-see destination for those who appreciate the hand made. 

Mica is located at 37 Mitchell Ave, Bakersville. Mica is open daily, Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 12–5 p.m. For more information call 828.688.6422 or visit micagallerync.com. Follow the gallery on Facebook at Mica Gallery NC, or on Instagram at micagallerync.