"An Intimate Encounter with Nature" with Artist Mary Kline Misol and Photographer Larry Mendenhall

Misol feels that time in her studio allows her to become familiar with aspects of herself that she can not reach in any other way. She cites Joseph Campbell, a great thinker of our time. He stated that as one ages one realizes the interference daily societal demands put upon our lives - demands which diffuse our sense of self. Thus an individual must find a quiet place, or a "bliss-station", in which there are no outside distractions. Within this space, one can rediscover the radiance that comes from the "Thou Feeling" for life. Her time spent in the studio is this sort of experience for her. Misol's paintings are produced spontaneously, with images unfolding as the work progresses. Her imagery revolves around figurative subjects, compositions, botanicals, and landscapes. She is influenced by literature, myth and poetry and draws on all three for inspiration. Her botanicals include the indigenous flora and fauna that grow and thrive in her woods.

Quiet Places Photography by Larry Mendenhall A former newspaper photographer and editor, Mendenhall, began concentrating on landscape photography in the late '90's and began Quiet Places Photography in 2003. He uses line,pattern, texture and light to guide the viewer through his nature and landscape images. Mendenhall will be showing pieces from his "Expressive Strokes" collection. "Expressive stroke" is a technique borrowed from pencil drawing defined as a line that varies in width, angle, and pressure. Expressive strokes "flow"-unlike a straight line drawn with a ruler-inviting viewers to experience the photograph rather than just being casual observers. Expressive strokes are abundant in nature and are often the subject of Mendenhall's black and white photography.