a big congratulations to gallery artist ruth ava lyons who is currently exhibiting her work at the taiwan embassy in nyc in the creative climate awards invitational sponsored by human impacts institute (hii). in its 5th year, the human impacts institute showcase presents 25 international artists, performers, and filmmakers who are making climate inspired work. the show is one of many initiatives to inspire collective change and educate the public about how to better their environmental impact through programming, workshops, education events, and exhibitions. the emcee for the recyclable couture fashion show and reception was design guru brooks atwood of the reality tv upcycling series trashformers. ambassador chang opened the ceremony. ruth exhibited paintings from her oceanic alchemies series.
ruth ave lyons in her studio
hidell brooks is so looking forward to our solo exhibition of new paintings by ruth ava lyons in january 2016 which are currently on view at the turchin center. the turchin center for visual arts is part of appalachian state university located in boone, north carolina. the turchin center for the visual arts fulfills appalachian state university's long-held mission of providing a home for world-class visual arts programming. the center is the largest facility of its kind in western north carolina, eastern tennessee and southwestern virginia, and is named for university benefactors robert and lillian turchin. the traveling exhibition sightings:ruth ava lyons is on view through december 19th in boone before it heads our way.
the dan - oil and gold leaf on canvas - 70 x 30 inches
“think of crawfish, think of crawfish holes, think of water, think of swimming, think of diving, think of sea creatures and also think of rocks and caves,” she says. “think of metal; metal that you find in the dirt when you’re a kid, think of metal undergoing changes. think of tying your shoelaces, think of not knowing what to do sometime and just doing it.” - lynda benglis
this quote by artist lynda benglis’ perfectly sums up the colorful paintings of ruth ava lyons who is inspired by her own passion for diving, endangered watery ecosystems, natural disasters and other environmental factors resulting from: “co-existence and the negative effect of man’s behavior on the natural world.”
lyon’s brightly colored mixed media paintings evoke the shimmering hues of the sea and the sensuality of moist surroundings. she says: “i am drawn to and inspired by a variety of environments that speak to me. these include places like the amazing great barrier reef/australia, the florida everglades, congaree, cumberland island, national parks, wetlands, forests and more. i attempt to use a vocabulary combining both organic and graphic forms to symbolize my thoughts on the status and ongoing threats to these places of wonder.”
lyons received a bfa from kent state university and mfa from cranbrook academy of art. she is a recipient of a fulbright fellowship, an american scandinavian foundation grant, a ford scholarship, and several other grants and residencies, including a 2013 residency at heron island research station at the great barrier reef in australia.