Raleigh art openings

Kimberly Alvis Opens Still-Life Exhibit in Cameron Village

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Still life by Kimberly Alvis
Still life by Kimberly Alvis

September 1, 2009 (RALEIGH, NC) – Chapel Hill artist Kimberly Alvis will contrast her classical approach to still-life painting with Raleigh artist Eric McRay’s more contemporary interpretation when the Little Art Gallery & Craft Collection in Cameron Village in Raleigh opens an exhibit of new works by both artists on Saturday, September 12. The artists’ reception will be held from 3-5 p.m. and the show will run through October 10.

“What makes the show so interesting is seeing how two artists interpret the same subject matter — still-lifes — so differently,” said Little Art Gallery owner Rosanne Green Minick.

Minick noted that Alvis’ work embraces the more traditional, painterly approach to still-life painting while McRay’s is more illustrative and whimsical.

Still life by Kimberly Alvis
Still life by Kimberly Alvis

Alvis, an award-winning artist who is best known for her still lifes and landscapes, commented on her thought process when she begins a painting: “When I put together a still life, or even when I am picking a landscape to paint, I try to think abstractly. I try to break everything down to the most simple elements, like beautiful colors, interesting shapes, and a flow of light that will take the viewer’s eye through the painting.”

Alvis’ still life paintings often feature elements from her extensive gardens in Chapel Hill, along with fresh fruits and interesting pottery or porcelain. When asked about her compositional choices, she said, “When I choose an item, I am never really thinking in terms of what the object actually is. I might be thinking a round object with a warm color would work well in this composition. Let me try a peach!”

Alvis’ still lifes and other works have been exhibited nationally at such venues as The Art Students League, The Salmagundi Club, and the Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit, all in New York City; and the Huntsman Fine Arts Gallery in Aspen, Colorado. Her work has received numerous awards including Best In Show two years in a row from The Arts Students League Annual Student Exhibition in New York City.

Kimberly Alvis is represented in the Triangle region by Little Art Gallery & Craft Collection in Raleigh and by Somerhill Gallery in Durham.

The Little Art Gallery is located at 432 Daniels Street. For more information and directions, go to www.littleartgalleryandcraft.com.

For more information on Kimberly Alvis and to see more of her work, visit www.alvisart.com.

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Salon Moxie Presents New Works by New York Artist Nichole Ohrablo

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September 10, 2008 (RALEIGH, NC) – Nichole Ohrablo, an artist based in New York City with Raleigh connections, will be the featured artist at Salon Moxie in North Raleigh from September 26 through November 13. The artist’s reception will be held Friday, September 26, from 6-9 p.m. in the salon.

Ohrablo work is bright, vibrant and evocative of New York graffiti. But she began her career under the tutelage of well-known Raleigh artist and art teacher Bob Rankin. Her family had moved to Raleigh from Long Island when Ohrablo was 10.

“I really learned a lot from [Rankin],” she said. “His work was always full of color and expression, which was very inspiring.”

At 19, Ohrablo moved back to New York to study art at The Fashion Institute of Technology, where she began what would be an ongoing fascination with everything about the gritty side of the city, especially the graffiti.

“It’s so incredibly detailed and colorful with real visual depth,” she said. “Good graffiti pieces also have this raw emotion and urban attitude. It’s 100 percent NYC, which is why I love it.”

Music, pop culture, and “my old clubbing days in the city” also inspire the work of the artist who considered herself “very much a misfit [in Raleigh]. I loved heavy metal bands, wore ripped jeans with big, Long Island hair, and I had a thick New York accent.”

Today Ohrablo lives on Long Island again with her husband Joe and their cat Vic. But they visit Raleigh frequently because her parents and her sister – Michelle Scaraglino, a stylist at Salon Moxie – are here.

Salon Moxie is owned and operated by Jack and Joelle Ray who also own the award-winning Samuel Cole Salon in North Raleigh. Salon Moxie has been hosting revolving art exhibits since it opened last summer.

“We wanted to find a way to connect our emerging artists at Moxie with other emerging artists in the area,” Joelle said. “We are excited to offer our support to the arts community.”

Salon Moxie is located at 6191-122 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh. For more information, visit http://www.salon-moxie.com or call 919-850-0721.

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