LAC’s Opening Reception for artist Melinda Mathews Sunday
Published 2:23 am Friday, October 5, 2012
Artist Melinda Mathews will be honored on Sunday, October 7 with an opening reception. The reception will be from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Leeds Theatre and Arts Center, 8140 Parkway Drive, downtown Leeds. Her work will be on exhibit in the Leeds Arts Council gallery during the month of October.
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The artist works in watercolor, acrylics and clay. She paints imaginary people, animals and situations, generally focusing on relationship and intent. She enjoys a touch of whimsy and tries to capture that naive grace that accompanies unselfconsciousness. Although, she has not had formal art training, in the usual sense, she has taken many art seminars and workshops from various outstanding instructors, including George James, Milt Kobayashi, Katherine Chang Liu, Glenn Bradshaw, Fran Larsen, Mary Todd Beam, Polly Hammett, Alex Powers, and Carrie Brown.
Melinda resides in Birmingham where she practices law with the firm of Sirote & Permutt, PC. She works in the area of estate planing and estate administration.
The artist is a “Signature-Silver” member and on the Board of the Watercolor Society of Alabama (WSA). She is also on the Board of the Birmingham Branch of the National League of American Pen Women.
Melinda has been selected for many juried exhibits. Most recently, her work was included in this years’ WSA 71st Annual National Exhibit, WSA’s 70th National Exhibit, the WSA 2011 Alabama Members Show and a one-woman show at the Hoover Library Gallery in April-May, 2011. In 2009, she also achieved artisan status with the International Guild of Miniature Artisans.
In a review for the Birmingham News, James R. Nelson describes the work of Melinda Mathews as having “…a delightful sense of humor with her watercolor fantasies..” He goes on to say that “…she creates elegant shapes and outrageous figures that are whimsical consideration of the human conditions” and that “…the effect is stunning and the memory lasting, for these works are drawn from the heart.”
For more information regarding the reception or other arts council events, call 699-1892 or go to www.leedsartscouncil.org. The arts center is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and during LAC events. In case of inclement weather, call ahead to see if it has been necessary to re-schedule.
