HOUSTON CHRONICLE ARCHIVES
Paper: Houston Chronicle
Date: Thu 10/25/2007
Section: ThisWeek
Page: 16
Edition: 2 STAR

Artists let their brushes do the talking in `Inside Voices' / Exhibit runs through Nov. 1 at Bosque Gallery

By STEPHANIE KING, Houston Chronicle Correspondent
Inspired by Day of the Dead festivities, the passage of time and ideas that creep into one's head in the dead of night, three artists are letting their "Inside Voices" speak at Cy-Fair College's Bosque Gallery.

The 2007 Cy-Fair College visiting artist exhibition is on view in the gallery on the Barker Cypress campus through Nov. 1.

Visitors can view dreamy abstracts and surreal portraits by Houston-area artists Robbie Martinez and Trish Klenow, respectively, and mixed-media collages by Lizbeth Ortiz.

"We invited these three to participate in this show because their work displayed both mastery of craft and meaningful content, which has the potential to inform, move and even change the viewer," said Suzanne Shield-Polk, ceramics professor.

Klenow said she hopes her art will make viewers "think outside the box" because it is representational art, and often in the Houston art community there is a focus on abstract work. She teaches art at Channelview High School.

"I'm really a simple artist," Klenow said. "At the end of the day I want my art to be beautiful and long lasting. I don't claim to be trying to solve the world's problems. I want to capture beauty."

Her work is inspired by the effects of time that can be witnessed in a child, in the seasons or, on a smaller but no less grand scale, as night turns to day.

Martinez first put her artistic talents to use as a graphic designer. She is the founder of Image Design Graphics.

"These particular paintings have all been produced from small digital sketches on the computer. Basically, it was my way of jotting down a note so I could go back to sleep at night. I call these sketches the "Insomniac Files," Martinez said.

"I just figured that later I would draw them out to spec, having noted the idea, and paint them at a later date. When I started to examine some of these line drawings, I really liked the continuity and the simplicity of the line."

Ortiz is inspired to create art by objects other people discard and the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead, which is a day of remembrance for one's ancestors.

"I believe that we can learn a lot about life by celebrating the lives of those before us, especially how to appreciate our own life," Ortiz said.

"I like to recycle materials. After living 10 years in New York City I found the objects thrown away in the streets were inspiring and full of stories to tell. Many of my canvases are stretched over old window frames and or drawers. I also incorporate textures such as sand, glass beads, etc. into my paintings."

She is employed with Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts as the nonprofit's performing and visual arts coordinator.

...

WANT TO GO?

What: Cy-Fair College 2007 visiting artist exhibition through Nov. 1

When: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays or by appointment

Where: Bosque Gallery, Center for the Arts building, Suite 101, Cy-Fair College, 9191 Barker Cypress Road

Details: 832-482-1038 or sarah.cassidy@nhmccd.edu
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The Houston Chronicle 2007