Art by Stacey Heffner
Valdese, NC – Rock School Arts Foundation presents the exhibition Faces/Faceless-Figurative Artwork by Melissa Smith and Stacey Heffner Abboud and Animals and Abstract by Maria Velez Campagna.
The exhibitions can be found in Gallery I & II at the Old Rock School in Valdese, NC. Exhibition dates are April 19 – May 17. Opening Reception will take place on Sunday, April 21 from 2-4pm. Public is invited to come and enjoy the artwork while getting to meet and speak with the artists. Artwork may also be viewed at RSAF website: www.rockschoolartgalleries.com
Faces/Faceless-Figurative Artwork by Melissa Smith and Stacey Heffner Abboud in Gallery I
Stacey Heffner Abboud
Artist Statement :
I have always used my mannequin art as a creative outlet…… usually reflective of experiences I personally have with the beauties I work with daily in the permanent makeup industry. Whether it be from a story they have shared with me, a characteristic I see shining through in their personality or a vivacious trait that ignites an idea in me.
These pieces are my own personal reflections of the beautiful, amazing, strong and courageous women I have the pleasure of getting to know on a daily basis. They inspire me.
Melissa Smith
Artist Statement:
In my work, I try to capture the passion of a moment, a gesture, a time, or place. Each work of art is fragmented, like our lives. We have the illusion of being whole, yet we are pieces of life’s experiences. We are continually learning throughout our existence, and this reshapes and redefines our being.
I have learned to think less and let the free flow of the Universe work through me to allow life and art to happen. I believe in the magic of the Universe and that we are connected to other energies that work through us. My art is more than the present I am experiencing – it is also comprised of past experiences. I believe our souls live forever and what I am trying to capture is a piece of the soul in a moment of evolution. I try to let my visceral self-take precedence and listen less to the cerebral mind and more to the guidance of the Universe. I am a medium for feeling, creativity, and energy that comes from somewhere else and I channel it into an expression of the moment on canvas or paper, much like an ever-shifting kaleidoscope of creativity. Fragmented Realism-Evolving pieces of a never-ending whole.
Animals and Abstract in Gallery II
Maria Velez Campagna
Artist Statement:
The works for this exhibition show Maria’s experimentation with new mark making tools, media and color combinations. This show is broken into two themes, animals and abstracts. Animals are created through a process of bold, expressive mark making. The abstracts are in two series. One set of abstracts focuses on overlaying color, each supporting the other. The other uses a unique paint that creates a black void background and on top sits a raised, almost icing like swaths of color. Each of these are unique but are drawn together by the over-arching concept of experimentation.
