Local artists honor Earth Day at Mt. Airy Art Garage’s newest exhibit

The gifts of nature were a theme at the opening reception of the Mt. Airy Art Garage’s newest member exhibition, “Earth Day – Through the Artist’s Eye”, on Friday evening.

Many of the works in the exhibit tie in with Earth Day through representation of landscapes, gardens, wildlife and animals found in zoos or farms. Others make use of natural or recycled materials.

For husband and wife artist team Peter Handler and Karen Singer climate change is the core message in their art. On display at MAAG are three of four works in a series entitled “Canaries in the Coal Mine”. Singer’s colorful ceramic sculptural pieces are encased in Handler’s elaborate wood housing that together, address areas on the planet where climate change will be felt first.

Climate change is something many people have difficulty thinking about, says Singer. Bringing to public attention through art can make a difference. “It can reach you emotionally,” she noted.

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Sara Steele’s watercolor painting, “The Presence of Absence”, created in 2007 as her way of expressing despair she felt during the fight to prevent development of nearby Erdenheim Farm.

“I’m grief stricken about what is going on with the planet,” she remarked, adding that she feels people do not value something until its already been lost.

Barbara Darin’s watercolor painting, “Dream Flight”, created in 2011, captures the opposite emotion. Through her paintbrush, Darin says she is capturing her joy and exuberance for nature.

Some 40 local artists working in a wide range of mediums are participants in the current exhibit.

“Earth Day – Through the Artist’s Eye” runs at Mt. Airy Art Garage through May 31. 

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