The Village Theater at Cherry Hill is pleased to present “Wax in the D,” an intriguing exhibition of encaustic art by 15 Detroit-area artists curated by visual artist Candace Law. The exhibition will run from February 1 – 28, 2017 in the Gallery@VT, located at 50400 Cherry Hill Road in Canton, MI 48187. An opening reception and opportunity to meet the artists will be held on February 1, 2017, from 7 – 9 p.m. This reception is free and open to the public.
“Encaustic is a wonderful medium that is being discovered by artists in increasing numbers,” according to the exhibition’s curator Candace Law. “Or, rather, re-discovered, because it actually dates back to ancient Greece. Wax was used to waterproof their ships, as well as by artisans, and it has been in and out of favor in fine art through the centuries since. More recently, it was artist Jasper Johns who helped bring encaustic onto the contemporary art scene in the heyday of the Abstract Expressionists. He came across this little-known medium and was taken with its possibilities. As he worked out his own mixtures and processes, Johns created stunning bodies of work that are in major collections and still on display today.”
“In its simplest form, encaustic is a combination of beeswax, a little damar resin, and pigment,” Law explained. “The mixture is brought to a molten state and applied with a brush to a rigid surface while still liquid. Once it has cooled, this top surface is reheated so the wax melts into the layers beneath. It is this layering that gives an encaustic piece its unique depth and luminosity, as well as allowing for interleaving other materials that make it so versatile. As I came to this exquisite medium, I was taken with both the visual beauty it produces and the very tactile feel of the surface.”
“My goal in curating this exhibition is to promote a growing awareness of encaustic and to showcase artists who are successfully expanding their vision and their craft by pursuing this challenging art form. It has been an honor and a pleasure to bring this group together and show my work alongside theirs,” added Law.
The artists appearing in the exhibition include: Suzanne Allen (Ferndale), Christina Czaja (Ypsilanti), Gwen Downs (Northville), Kim Ensch (Belleville), Kathy Jacobi (Ferndale), Edee Joppich (West Bloomfield), Janice Key (Commerce Township), Candace Law (Berkley), Rosemary Lee (Howell), Nora Chapa Mendoza (West Bloomfield), Kate Paul (Livonia), Martha Van Raaphorst (Port Huron), Melissa Rian (South Lyon), Ruth Warnock (Grosse Pointe Park), and Wendy Wernet (Highland). To see more encaustic art by these and other artists, visit WaxintheD.com.
Candace Law is a full time artist in the Detroit area. After receiving degrees and working in other fields, she earned a BFA in Architectural Illustration, but found herself drawn to fine art. Her current body of work focuses on encaustic (hot wax) and mixed media, especially incorporating found objects. Her exhibits include several solo shows as well as numerous regional and national exhibitions—both invitational and juried competitions. Her work has appeared in Encaustic Arts magazine, as well as the Studio Visit publication, and is in a number of private collections. Law currently teaches encaustic workshops and works from her studio in Berkley, Michigan.
The “Wax in the D” exhibition, featuring over 40 works, will be on display at The Village Theater at Cherry Hill, located at 50400 Cherry Hill Rd, Canton, MI 48187, from February 1 – 27, 2017. Exhibits at the Gallery@VT are free and open to the public: Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; during public performances at the theater; and by appointment by calling 734/394-5300. The Gallery@VT is closed on holidays.