Arlene's Artist Materials is thrilled to open the exhibition State of Flux featuring work by Berkshire artist Danielle Klebes running April 2nd to 25th. The main subjects for Klebes’ artwork are people who are in a state of flux. The figures in her paintings, captured in moments of uncertainty and isolation, are close in proximity but emotionally distant. They are positioned in liminal natural environments—the sun is setting or storms are approaching—with no clear entrance or exit pathway. There is a sense of the in-between without a clear narrative regarding what comes next. Her compositions highlight the often-disconnected relationship between the individual and the groups they belong to. “I am interested in emotions generally associated with being alone including loneliness, feelings of isolation, and resignation, and how they relate to the individual experience within a group” Klebes says. She employs a cool, colorful, and unnatural palette to highlight disconnection and lack of intimacy. “I take liberty in creating environments for my figures, sometimes completely removing them, sometimes abstracting them, and sometimes adding surreal elements. The paintings are not specifically narrative, but they include pictorial clues to the experience of the subjects.” The Artist Reception on Thursday, Thursday, April 2nd, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. It is free and open to the public. Food and beverages will be provided.
Danielle Klebes has exhibited at galleries and museums in Istria, Croatia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Massachusetts, Colorado, Vermont, and Florida. She was an artist in residence at MASS MoCA from early November to early December, 2018, and at the Vermont Studio Center for the month of March 2019. Her work has been featured in numerous print and online publications including Creative Quarterly, Into the Void, Chaleur Magazine, Creative Boom, Supersonic Art, AT Journeys, and The Esthetic Apostle. Danielle received her MFA in Visual Arts from Lesley University College of Art and Design in Cambridge, MA, in 2017. She is currently abroad at Artist in Residences in Trondheim, Norway and Nepal. She lives in North Adams, MA, with her husband Dalton James, a writer. www.danielleklebes.com
The R Gallery at Arlene’s exhibits emerging and established artists, working in any media, exhibiting contemporary artworks with an emphasis on technical execution. The aim is to showcase thought-provoking and impactful work while highlighting craftsmanship and technique. Our goal is to further enrich the community that we've been apart of since 1960. The gallery is located on the main level of Arlene’s Artist Materials, in the nook right behind the front counter. rgalleryarlenes.com