Exposed Nature

Closing Reception May 3, 7-10pm

Exposed Nature features photographer Bill Kalnes, Mixed Media Farida Korobova & Wire Arborist David Arnolts. These three artist take a look at Nature is show it at it's best. 
 

About Bill

Bill has been photographing nature for over 20 years, traveling all over the United States, Canada and parts of Europe. Regardless of where he goes, he always finds something new, unique or breathtaking to photograph. He believes that no one can get tired of what Mother Nature offers; vibrant colors, majestic mountains, textures, dimensions, ocean cliffs, soaring eagles, big horn sheep, small and grand waterfalls, trees that you can drive cars through, pristine forests, and endless other sources of inspiration.

During these years he has experimented with enhancing Nature’s colors to see what the possibilities would be. What he did find out is that in doing this you go from photographing nature to creating art. So, with that in mind, he decided to put a tongue and cheek story together about Mother Nature’s rebellious years and the impact it had on her creations.

So please enjoy the exhibit which documents some of Mother Nature’s journey into her Altered States.

About Farida

I cannot remember a time when I didn’t draw and paint. As a child, animals and nature were my all- time favorite subjects to admire and depict, and they remain today the biggest inspiration for my art.

At the age of twelve, I entered an art school in Moscow and graduated five years later with an extensive knowledge of the history of the arts; my schooling also allowed me to develop many different styles and techniques in the fine arts and sculpture.  These were tough times in Russia, and the social chaos and instability prevented me from even thinking of pursuing a career as a professional artist. Therefore I followed my second biggest passion and became a biology scientist, studying the intricate beauty of the smallest units of living creatures—cells.  Looking through the microscope, I observed Nature as the greatest Artist—an Artist who has created fascinating formations that range in size from the mighty Himalayas to the smallest of molecules.

For a long while, my favorite mediums were oils and watercolors, but recently I fell in love with acrylics and mixed medium, and I’m totally enchanted by the possibilities these paints present. Epoxy resin art is another medium that I have newly explored; it offers fantastic effects in color and depth.  Merging these two mediums allowed me to move my art to another level, where I can combine fluid abstract backgrounds with realistic detailed brushwork. My works have been displayed and sold in the gallery run by the Palette and Chisel Art Academy in downtown Chicago, and they are also part of private collections in the US and Canada.

I find that one of the most precious gifts I have acquired is to be struck by the unexpected beauty in everyday things--like a reflection in a puddle on the road, or a crack in a wall, or the sudden splash of color in a window.  The blessing I am thankful for is to be able to express this beauty through the colors and forms of my art.

About David

David has spent the last 30 years in the nursery industry planting, growing, and admiring trees. Fifteen years ago he began creating tree sculptures from copper wire. By means of soldering and twisting he is able to transform electrical cable into the unique forms of a variety of trees.

All are welcome to attend.