Jan 11, 6:00 pm

6:00pm - 8:00pm

Description

Join us for an opening reception in the Park View Gallery. Marilyn Gates-Davis, the winner of the 2024 Park View Artist Award at the 53rd Annual Labor Day Art Show, presents a solo exhibition of dreamscape paintings. Light refreshments and beverages available.

RSVP (preferred, not required) >>  

Artist Biography
Painting since a child, Marilyn Gates-Davis has over 40 years and counting as an artist. She has been working as a graphic designer for the past 30+ years, designing magazines, books, and print materials. She typically paints intimate portraits of friends and family members as well as iconic figures. 
To counteract negative stereotypes, she chooses to depict the joy of the black culture through her paintings. Marilyn paints images that celebrate grace, strength, dignity and love of black people, often utilizing her art to share personal stories and childhood memories. 
Marilyn paints primarily in acrylics and oils. She also creates collage work using cut paper, acrylic paint and other organic textured materials. Her goal is to take the everyday images and life experiences and elevate them to tell stories that connect us all.  

Artist Statement: Pieces of a Dream
I dream a lot. Some of my dreams feel so vivid and real that I wake up carrying the emotions they stirred within me. As a teenager, I often found myself daydreaming, letting my imagination take flight. These moments of dreaming—both asleep and awake—are the foundation of my creative journey and the inspiration for Pieces of a Dream.

After the passing of my grandmother in 1999, her presence became a recurring theme in my dreams. Sometimes she appeared directly, and other times her essence seemed woven into the fabric of the dreamscape, appearing in unexpected places. Someone once explained this as her way of watching over me. These experiences deeply influenced my art, as they blend personal memory with a sense of connection to something greater.

In my dreams, I often find myself floating freely through rooms instead of walking. This sensation has been interpreted as a symbol of freedom, happiness, satisfaction, and success. These themes resonate in my work, as I strive to evoke a sense of possibility and emotional connection.

Through Pieces of a Dream, I explore the interplay between cherished childhood memories, personal loss, and the symbolic language of dreams. My goal is to create pieces that invite viewers to reflect on their own subconscious worlds.