Misty Stratton and Marlana Williams

The Charles Harris Library Gallery is pleased to present recent work by Misty Stratton and Marlana Williams. Despite aesthetic differences, both artists share a sensitivity towards memory and personal history. Stratton traces out contours of old family photos, concealing her loved ones’ faces behind peculiar masks inspired by different cultures. Her textile pieces also incorporate reductive contours of nameless people engaged in uncertain activity. The darkly humorous results are meditations on the changing nature of family relationships, belonging and estrangement. They convey a quiet yearning to “fix it back the way it was.” The formalist tendency of Williams, on the other hand, emphasizes the inherent aesthetic qualities of her found objects. Yet, the old fragments of furniture, salvaged window frames, and scraps of fabric obliquely suggest intimate lives of the anonymous people who once used them.

The public is warmly invited to attend the opening reception on Monday, December 7th 5:30 - 7:30pm in the gallery. Light refreshments will be served.

About the Artists:
Misty Stratton has an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise and an M.F.A. from Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland. She currently is adjunct faculty of art at Mountain Empire Community College and UVa-Wise. Marlana Williams was born and raised in Gate City Va. She has a B.F.A in art from University of Virginia’s College at Wise. She currently lives in Gate City with her son and husband.

	Opening Reception: Monday, December 7th 2009, 5:30 to 7:30pm.






	The Charles Harris Library Gallery is pleased to present recent work by Misty Stratton and Marlana Williams. Despite aesthetic differences, both artists share a sensitivity towards memory and personal history. Stratton traces out contours of old family photos, concealing her loved ones’ faces behind peculiar masks inspired by different cultures. Her textile pieces also incorporate reductive contours of nameless people engaged in uncertain activity. The darkly humorous results are meditations on the changing nature of family relationships, belonging and estrangement. They convey a quiet yearning to “fix it back the way it was.” The formalist tendency of Williams, on the other hand, emphasizes the inherent aesthetic qualities of her found objects. Yet, the old fragments of furniture, salvaged window frames, and scraps of fabric obliquely suggest intimate lives of the anonymous people who once used them. The public is warmly invited to attend the opening reception on Monday, December 7th 5:30 - 7:30pm in the gallery. Light refreshments will be served. About the Artists: Misty Stratton has an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise and an M.F.A. from Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland. She currently is adjunct faculty of art at Mountain Empire Community College and UVa-Wise. Marlana Williams was born and raised in Gate City Va. She has a B.F.A in art from University of Virginia’s College at Wise. She currently lives in Gate City with her son and husband.