Open January 26 – February 26

Art Gym is excited to present “Mirror Works” a solo exhibition of new drawings from member River Smith on view in The Leyden Jar. Please join us and the artist for a reception on Thursday January 26 from 6-9PM.

Charcoal has been my preferred medium since college. I fell in love with both its ease and the difficulty and the intensity of darkness you can achieve. From the light reflections in an eye, to the all consuming black abyss presented in these pieces, the range is endless. I wanted to place focus on the actions, motivations and emotions of the subjects. They exist in an expansive void, much like our own planet in space, and serve as mirrors to reflect on.

I invite you to view these works through your own lens. What do you feel as you see a woman crumbling away? What led to this destruction? Would you accept the comforting darkness presented to you, or shy away? Can you see the beauty around yourself, or are you consumed by obsessive thoughts? How might you feel if you did let go of the darkness? Would you heal or be losing a piece of yourself?

I often struggle to express myself through speaking, and my thoughts are all highly visual. I wanted to create pieces that reflected the way I’ve felt throughout my life, and for others to understand what my words can’t describe. Personal struggles are present in each piece, and can be felt by anyone who views them. Whatever memory surfaces, sit with it while viewing these pieces and my hope is that you can come to a new understanding about it and yourselves.

River is an artist who moved to Denver earlier this year from North Texas. She graduated with an Associates in Art from Collin College in May of 2021. Growing up with an artistic family, River spent many years making crafts of all kinds, from drawing kittens, sewing little teddy bears, to making jewelry and even ceramics. Once in college, she found herself focusing and growing her drawing skills and ultimately completing her degree in Art. River continues to grow her drawing and composition skills as she builds her portfolio.