Artwork by Lori Dever
Lori Dever, a member of the Main Street Gallery Cooperative is the featured artist for the gallery’s July/August show. Titled “Subconscious Snapshots, The Birth of Ideas” this show of her recent work has sprung from her subconscious, the East New Market artist says.
“Lately my mind has been wandering with snapshots of intimate images” Lori explains. These intimate images come to life as she guides her pencil around her sketchpad and lets her mind connect the dots of the image as it emerges. “While moving the pencil around and trying to find its shape, my mind opens to a meditative state and the subject starts to emerge from my subconscious” she says. The artist finds comfort in this process and describes it as “spacing out” or losing herself in a shape, color or idea. “I don’t recall painting some of my paintings at all.” she says. “Depending on whether I am working on a painting, abstract or realistic, I always end up losing myself to my subconscious.”
Lori has titled these new pieces by the date they were created in her sketchbook. The first of this new suite for example, is a drawing titled simply 2/6/21.
She has done this, she says, because she likes to hide her original idea within the play of shapes and colors and doesn’t want the title to give her subject away. She’d rather have viewers draw their own ideas of her subjects.
Lori studied painting at the Columbus College of Art and Design but she says she has been drawing as far back as she can remember, doodling on corners of papers, making swirls and circles. The subjects of Lori’s works almost always reference the human body in some way, be it male or female. ” I need the human spirit around me to keep me connected with what is going on in the world, and I believe it is the most predominant thing in my work. I love reflecting my life into my work. It tells my story, my piece of heaven.”
“Subconscious Snapshots, The Birth of Ideas” opens on Thursday, July 1 and runs through Sunday, August 29. There will be two artists receptions on Second Saturdays, JULY 10 and AUGUST 14 from 5-8 pm. The receptions are free and open to the public. The gallery is located at 518 Poplar St. in Cambridge’s lively Arts and Entertainment District and directly across the street from Jimmie and Sooks Restaurant.
Note the new open hours for the exhibit which are Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 11-5 and Saturday from 10-8. Patrons may also schedule a private visit by calling 410-330-4659 or they may shop online at the gallery’s website: www.mainstgallery.net, The gallery provides curbside pickup and free local delivery.
Main Street Gallery members are taking all sanitary precautions to ensure the safety of its visitors and are wearing masks while in the gallery and ask that all visitors do the same. Main Street Gallery is Cambridge’s only artist-owned and run cooperative and is currently reviewing work from prospective members and guest artists. Please contact the Gallery if you are interested in being a part of this vibrant artist community.
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.