HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. - March 13, 2021 - Hillsborough Artists' Sense of Wonder

Jeweler Arianna Bara, wood sculptor Larry Favorite and painter Eduardo Lapetina have spent the pandemic thinking about their relationship to the world and their art. This new show is the result of all the time alone in the studio.

For jeweler Arianna Bara the events of these days, filled with both worry and hope, have led to a sense of wonder. "As my world has shrunk, I spend time exploring the smallest worlds I have access to and find a universe in the land of mosses and lichens in the woods, to the bright greens, the textures, the variety of leaves and tendrils. That excitement carries over to the natural beauty found in fossils and stones like Australian boulder opals, which begin as rivers of silica flowing through channels in rock and become beautifully unpredictable in the variety and intensities of their colors. In creating jewelry with these fruits of the earth I hope to communicate that same wonder to the wearer."

For wood sculptor Larry Favorite this has been an extraordinary year. "Due to the pandemic, I have spent long days in my studio, with only a pile of desert ironwood, tiny bits of turquoise, sheets of sterling silver, and my imagination to keep me company. To produce a finished piece of art I must slow down my breathing, narrow my field of vision and steady my hands. As a result, making my art has the capacity to calm both my body and my mind. These pieces highlight the enduring quality of ironwood, enhanced by a combination of flowing abstract designs and simple images drawn from nature. They are meant to communicate a sense of familiarity, reassurance, and healing. I hope you are as calmed by looking at these pieces as I was by making them."

Painter Eduardo Lapetina writes: "Forced by the pandemic, I was in isolation, mostly working in my studio. It was an opportunity to connect with the outside world through my paintings. I wanted the present work to be the catalyst to rethink the significance of our future and to stimulate ideas and dialogue. To have a fresh outlook with an explosion of vibrant colors, impactful textures and messages of hope. I want my journey in art to be a natural orchestration of my experiences and emotions."

Sense of Wonder will run both online and in the gallery from March 26 to April 25.

The Hillsborough Gallery of Arts is owned by 21 local artists, exhibiting contemporary fine art & craft. 121 N. Churton Street, Hillsborough, NC 27278. More information, including current hours, can be found on the HGA website: http://www.HillsboroughGallery.com

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Orange County
Arts Commission. We also thank Orange County Emergency Small Business Funding Program.