LEWISTON – Beneath the Surface, an exhibition of abstract paintings by Deary, Idaho, artist Gail Siegel, will be on display at the Lewiston City Library from June 7 through August 31. An opening reception will be held from 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 7.
Siegel uses acrylic paint on paper and panels to create rich textured surfaces that resemble encaustic, allowing for a rich and immersive visual experience. Each painting, from her large canvases to small panels, is a journey of building up layers of color, followed by excavation, as she sands back into the surface to reveal what lies beneath. She views these works as a metaphor for life and hopes they can serve as a catalyst for introspection and connection, welcoming viewers to question what seeps through the sediment and rises to the surface of their own lives.
Siegel, a native of Detroit, Michigan, has called North Idaho her home since 1990. She has worked extensively in arts administration, as the director of the former University of Idaho Prichard Art Gallery, in Moscow, and at Washington State University, in Pullman, as director of the Visual, Performing and Literary Arts Committee and WSU Performing Art.
Siegel earned a BFA in graphic design and photography from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and an MFA in drawing and painting from the University of Idaho. She currently lives and works full-time as an artist at her rural home near Deary.
The mission of the Lewiston City Library is to provide the people of Lewiston with free and open access to knowledge, ideas, and information and to support them in their pursuit of learning. Each year the library and its art committee present the work of local artists for the enrichment of the community.
Lewiston City Library is located at 411 D St., Lewiston, Idaho and hours are Monday-Thursday, 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. The library is open to all and the exhibition is free.
Photos are available by request at www.gail-siegel.com or www.lewistonlibrary.org