Fresh Gallery – Featured Artist for June – Juried BOMH artist Alicia Farris – Springfield, MO

At Fresh Gallery, we like to highlight our artists during the First Friday festivities. For June, it is our pleasure to feature our members, Robin Coulter Crabb and Alicia Farris. Crabb and Alicia have titled their month-long exhibit “Sparkle and Splash.” Both artists will be gracing the gallery with new works.

Robin Coulter Crabb is an exceptional glass artist. Her pieces range from whimsical to intricate and from traditional soldered to kiln slumped. “My favorite tool in creating my artwork is my glass cutter. With it, I can take a sheet of glass and cut the pieces to use as a painter would dip their brush.” says Crabb of her work.

Crabb says that glass is such a wonderful medium to work with. She may make a cheerful colored panel to hang in a window, or use an opaque glass to obscure the light and soften a room. As owner of Robin’s Nest Stained Glass, Crabb has been commissioned by numerous churches, commercial and residential clients. She never knows what her next request will be, and always welcomes a challenge so as to explore a new technique.

When Crabb works with glass, she is reminded that creating the art has not changed much for centuries. She begins a piece with a detailed drawing. A design is good when it flows on to the drawing paper effortlessly and excitement builds to start constructing it. “When people see my work, I’d like them to appreciate all the steps from design to soldering that creates the piece of art.” says Crabb. Currently, she is experimenting with casting glass with painted details and firing multiple times to create depth in the pieces.

Crabb’s pieces are stunning in the light. She has a wide variety of works. Some hang in windows and some sit on surfaces. She has everything from glass magnets to jewelry to full window panels to terrariums. It is quite a collection and should not be missed.

Our second featured artist for the month of June is Alicia Farris. Farris is one of the original members of Fresh Gallery, having been a member since its inception over seven years ago. Farris is currently serving as Gallery Coordinator and loves being involved in every aspect of Fresh.

Farris paints in acrylic, oil and is a nationally known watercolor artist. She strives to capture her subject matter, whatever it may be, by reflecting and creating light, color and mood to stir the viewer’s emotions. Her work has been exhibited with such organizations as the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies, Southwestern Watercolor society, Missouri Watercolor Society, Missouri Valley Impressionists Society, St. Louis Watercolor Society, Watercolor USA, and has been honored with multiple awards over the years. Farris loves and is inspired by sharing her knowledge through teaching workshops and classes throughout the Midwest. She teaches locally through the Springfield Regional Arts Council and at Splatter Art Studio in Springfield. Her teaching schedule can be found on her website, www.afarris.com.

For the month of June, Farris will be showcasing new works in both acrylic and watercolor. Her works range from detailed to ethereal. Farris captures emotion and makes the subject come to life on her canvas. It will be a must-see exhibit.