The exhibition “Living with Art at the Main Gallery” features six of The Main Gallery artists, Belinda Chlouber, Ellen Chong, Cheryl Shepard, Rosemary Di Nardo, Katinka Hartmetz and Ginger Slonaker. The artists have collaborated on an installation of a living space, incorporating art into everyday objects and examining what it means to “live with art."

“For some people, their home becomes their art 'palette,' either in their collection of art or their choice of furniture and colors, which many times becomes an inanimate reflection of themselves,” says Belinda Chlouber. Thus, the idea of examining what it means to live with art, or what can become art grew into a show.  When a group of artists, who often are also art collectors, collaborate and re-create a living space, the viewer gets a peek into the “ultimate” use of art in the home and what it means to live with art. 

Katinka Hartmetz states, “I have to live with art, I have no choice, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I live with my mother’s paintings and my grandmother’s paintings. Their texture and color ranges have influenced me and given me inspiration for my own work.  The pieces are also a part of me and are some of my most prized possessions.  Everyday I am reminded of how talented they were and I try to be as accomplished!”

“Art is a reflection of culture,” states Rosemary Di Nardo. “In this respect, we're already living with art, we just may not be conscious of it.  I think this show challenges us to become conscious of the power of art and thereby better able to make choices about the kind of art of we live with.”

Belinda Chlouber’s three-dimensional and collaborative-oriented pieces utilize her mixed-media techniques.  In thinking about collaborating and creating something that is both a group piece yet still retains each artist's individual vision, she had the idea to make a "TV Art Box" and give panels to other artists to paint on.  The panels can then be rotated to the front of the "TV" for viewing.  Some of objects in the show Chlouber found at garage sales and up-cycled. A serving tray finds new life, enhanced with one of her paintings. A repainted wall shelf becomes the perfect pedestal for one of her ceramic-felt sculptures.  Chlouber also displays mixed-media wall pieces, along with handmade books and a mixed-media felted mobile.

Katinka Hartmetz’s paintings on furniture, mirrors, canvas and panel reflect a style she has developed using decals to create an ethereal otherworldly surface. Her training in faux finishing and as a muralist has helped in developing this body of work, the pieces of which are larger and more elaborate.  Hartmetz states, “I have had so much fun transforming old worn out or useless stuff into something useable and colorful!”  For Hartmetz the idea of pulling the group show together is similar to arranging inherited, gifted and bought objects in a way that is comfortable to live with.

“My work for this show is mostly non-conceptual, and very recycled,” says Ginger Slonaker.  “I have used mostly found objects and house paint but tried some new techniques: glass etching, fabric, refinishing wood among others.” For Slonaker, the big difference has been that the materials used, rather than the conceptual message, have led the direction of the artwork, as might have been the case had she had started from a blank canvas.