Humboldt State University’s First Street Gallery presents Make It All True, featuring an array of paintings and mixed media works by Bay Area artist Kelly Allen.
Allen is interested in creating paintings that portray the unity of life on earth. With an emphasis on images from wild nature, her work is primarily fueled by the desire to build a bridge between our ancestral connection to the natural world and contemporary society, which is largely detached from nature. Acting from our current side of that bridge, she seeks to create a renewed respect and appreciation for the fantastic animals and plants that share the earth with us.
Kelly Allen describes her work as symbolic portraits comprised of a multitude of imagery culled from a wide range of visual sources. A common motif in her work presents a particular animal is surrounded by a carefully constructed arrangement of organic forms, graphic shapes, bold swatches of pattern and color, jewels, beads, and flowers woven together to create her compelling compositions.
Kelly Allen will present a slide lecture about her work this Friday, Feb. 3 at 5 p.m. in the Art Building, Room 102. Admission is free to the public. The public can locate the Art Building by linking to humboldt.edu/humboldt/maps
A reception for Kelly Allen will be held Saturday, Feb. 4 during Eureka’s monthly Arts Alive event. Celebrating its 14th year of service to HSU students and to the North Coast community, Humboldt State University First Street Gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. and is located at 422 First Street, Eureka, Calif. Admission is free.
Look for Kelly Allen to return to Thinkspace this coming July with a solo show in our project room.
