A multi-media and multi-style art exhibit

Featuring Pysanky by Katherine Alexander, acrylic portraits by Daniel Bess, acrylic mandala paintings by Lynn Carter, wooden sculpture, benches and frames by Mindy Cooke, and abstract acrylic and mixed media paintings by Cara Harjes.

Katherine Alexander - Pysanky

Pysanky, the traditional Ukrainian art of “writing on eggs”, is a perfect medium for a chaos junkie.  Every egg is a new shape. Each shell accepts dye in a unique way. Wax lines cannot be erased. Cracks happen.  Eggs shatter. But sometimes the fates align, and after hours of planning, waxing, and dyeing, the finished egg rolls around in my hands exactly the way I envisioned.  The geometry on the asymmetrical surface appears both impossible and effortless. White outlines shine brightly against vivid colors and a deep black background.  Traditional symbols intertwine with a modern spirit. The process is difficult, but the result is indeed pristine.  
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Katherine Alexander is a second-generation Polish immigrant who learned pysanky from her mother.  She draws inspiration from the art's original purpose of celebrating the changing seasons and inherent beauty of symmetry in nature. Her goal is to elevate this folk tradition to high art status.  
 
Danny Bess - Acrylic Portraits

​In this portrait series, I attempt to capture the model's gaze through the exploration of color and texture, balancing a fine line between realistic and stylized imagery.
Danny Bess lives in Webster Groves, Mo. He is new to the scene, self-taught, and he enjoys working in acrylic medium to create his art.
Art is in my soul and nature keeps me grounded.  I love to incorporate the flow, colors, and feel of nature into my creations.
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Lynn Carter - Acrylic Mandalas

Lynn Carter is a native of Alton, Illinois. Throughout her life she has explored many avenues of artistic expression that include: Theater and Dance performance, Creating and sewing costumes, Painting and Drawing.  A few years ago, Lynn started sewing costumes for Steampunk events and conventions.  This expanded into Steampunk themed drawings then into painting Mandala artwork.  Creating Mandala pieces is a very meditative and peace filled experience for Lynn.  She finds it amazing and inspiring to be able to handle working full time and managing to create a body of work. Hope you enjoy her art as much as she enjoys making it.

Mindy Cooke - Woodworking

​I have professionally and lovingly worked with wood for over 20 years. I believe that by showcasing its natural beauty and accenting with my photography I can spark passion in others to preserve, protect and appreciate the natural wonders around us. Each one of my pieces is one of a kind, and I use responsibly cut and reclaimed materials.

Mindy Cooke grew up in Webster Groves and recently moved to Mehlville where she has an old barn she converted into her shop on the property. She has been a professional custom cabinet maker for over 20 years and was taught by her father who learned the craft from a first generation German immigrant.  She has always been an artist (painting, photography, drawing, ect) and as she became more experienced with wood as the medium, she was able to get more and more creative with the pieces she made.  She decided to quit her full time cabinet making job in 2019 to make art her full time business.

Cara Harjes - Acrylic and Mixed Media

Through the use of brightly hued acrylic paints, charcoal, water, and artist crayons, I make paintings that are most notable for their color, layers and texture. At first glance, the viewer sees a bold palette of bright colors, signaling the joy and beauty that is available to all of us to tap into. They feel happy and inspired. But after a moment, they begin to notice the contrasting drips, smudges, and smears that acknowledge the difficult and sometimes downright brutal realities of being a human. They feel comforted and seen; they are not alone in experiencing life as one big beautiful mess.
 
A St. Louis native, Cara moved back to town in July of 2020 after 20 years of living in Denver.  She now resides in Kirkwood, MO where she is building her dream backyard art studio.  She loves to make art to adorn peoples homes, but she is most inspired when she is teaching the intuitive painting process to artists of every level in weekend workshops and week long retreats!   Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for upcoming offerings.     She lives with her two young daughters, can hold a penny in her dimples,  and drinks entirely too much iced coffe.

Date: March 3 - May 1, 2021

This event listing provided for the Webster Groves community events calendar. Community events are not associated with or sponsored by AARP, but may be of interest to you. If you have an event to share, let us know!

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