Finding the Quintessence of Art
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HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. - ncarol.com -- Each year botanical painter Chris Graebner is more enthralled by the flowers around her. "Last month I was given a bouquet of home-grown Ranunculus and watched them open like an Elizabethan ruff. Lunaria, also called Honesty or Money Plant, grows across the street from me. I watch as it develops its thin, transparent seed pods over the summer and hear them rustle in the autumn wind. Fiery-red Bee Balm grows across the street as well, its square stems a clue that it's a member of the mint family. Snap Dragons, a childhood favorite, grow upward in a spiral, adding buds as they rise. And then there are Roses, always roses. Shrub roses, climbing roses, tea roses, multiflora roses, wild roses – I love to paint them all.

Jason Smith creates works of art that challenge the boundaries of traditional metal sculpting techniques. "With a passion for working with metal, I transform this raw material into pieces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also thought provoking." Smith's work reflects a deep interest in the duality of the material he works with - its strength and its fragility. Each piece is an expression of his artistic vision, exploring the relationship between form and function, the organic, geometric, and harmony of the world. "My sculptures are an abstract manipulation of form and space to create visual balance using rhythm, action and movement, combined to create compositions that convey the implied energy in the work."

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Artist Sally Terrell is drawn to vivid colors but finds that Scratchboard intrigues her most. "Since I enjoy doing animals, I find it the perfect medium. I am amazed at what can be created on an inked board with a variety of tools. You can play with the values of light and dark to create a very dramatic piece. I try to infuse my work with a positive energy, attitude, or message, which I strongly believe impacts the viewer."
Terrell is a member of the International Society of Scratchboard Artists and serves as board secretary. She has achieved the level of Signature Scratchboard Artist and has won awards for her work.

Quintessence will be at the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts from May 28 - June 23, with an opening reception on May 31 from 6-9pm.

About the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts
The gallery is owned and operated by 21 artists exhibiting contemporary fine art and fine craft. Offerings include painting, sculpture, ceramics, photomontage, jewelry, glass, metals, and wood. 121 N. Churton Street, Hillsborough, NC 27278. Phone: (919) 732-5001. The gallery is open 10-6 Mon - Sat, 12-4 Sun. More information can be found on the HGA website: http://www.HillsboroughGallery.com