October 2010
Color, Line and Structure
Our October exhibit reflects the vibrant colors and intricate textures of the season. Two diversely talented artists are featured in the gallery this month. Local artist, Shan Lollis, returns with new paintings in acrylic and ink. Shan believes in using as much pure color as possible, creating a graphic like quality to her work. California artist, Ann Robinson, shows a rich collection of hand-woven textiles in bold hues of natural hand-dyed fibers.
Shan Lollis, History Buffs
Shan Lollis
acrylic and ink paintings
Influenced by her years of travel in Western Europe and Mexico, Shan Lollis has produced pieces in acrylic, watercolor, and pen and ink. According to Webster’s Dictionary, “drawing is the art or technique of making lines.” With a Chinese calligraphy brush and India ink, Shan has focused on drawing black on white pieces relying on varying lines and layout to create interesting design. An occasional bold splash of bright color adds interest and catches the eye of the viewer. “The ideas for these drawings stemmed from “Girl in a Red Chair.” I liked the simple, but decorative look. It became an interesting challenge to use only lines and design to create a story.
Lollis has been a resident of the Rogue Valley for 26 years, and a serious artist for most of her adult life. Her work has been shown in galleries throughout the Rogue Valley. She studied art at Olympic College, The University of Washington, and Varenna, Italy.
Ann Robinson, Turquoise Red weaving
Ann robinson
Hand Woven textiles
Ann Robinson weaves “in response to the chaotic world we live in – a world of constant noise, information overload, and a lot of bad news.”
“I weave to preserve an ancient form of art. I work on a traditional loom and use only natural fibers: cotton, silk, tencel (made from wood), bamboo, and soy.”
“I weave not to create a picture but rather to express a feeling through color and structure. I hand-dye the yarn in a variety of color combinations and then choose a structure of repeating patterns, resulting in a visual rhythm that is evident in each piece.”
“I weave because the process (some 25-30 hours for a single piece) is as important as the final product. Weaving provides discipline and allows me to practice patience and endurance – survival skills in this chaotic world.”