Kirkland Performance Center Welcomes December’s ArtStage Artist: Merrily Dicks

Media Contact:
Rachel Jackson, PR Manager
Rachel@kpcenter.org
425-828-0422
www.kpcenter.org

What:
ArtsStage presents a solo art show featuring Merrily Dicks

When:
Exhibit runs December 1st – December 31st Reception: December 4th , 6 pm

Where:
Kirkland Performance Center
350 Kirkland Avenue
Kirkland, WA 98033

Info:
The Lobby Gallery is open during box office hours, Tuesday – Saturday from 12 PM to 6 PM
and during scheduled performances.

For information call Kirkland Performance Center at (425) 893-9900 or visit www.kpcenter.org

ArtStage is pleased to present new paintings by Kirkland artist Merrily Dicks. Influenced by her years of travel in Asia and the American Southwest, she paints dream-like worlds that serve as a gentle retreat from the stresses of daily life.

A free spirit, Merrily creates an interesting tension in her paintings. Her work conveys her appetite for new experiences, her interest in cutting edge technologies, and her fascination with a variety of cultural and artistic traditions. In her work, worlds come together. Urban architecture meets nature, digital media techniques printed on rice paper, and memories collide with the modern world. In today’s frenzied culture, it’s difficult wade through the endless information streaming our way. Through her delicate and playful touch, Merrily brings these disparate elements together, tones them down, distills the essence, and allow us to look at the world.

A longtime arts advocate, Merrily has serves as a Board Member for the Kirkland Arts Center, and is a post Board Member of the Kirkland Cultural Council, the Kirkland Heritage Society and many other cultural and community organizations. Her paintings are in private collections across the country and she has won awards in regional art exhibitions.

Merrily Dicks is a Kirkland painter, an active arts advocate, she has taught art classes and now is experimenting with the challenges of color. She has paintings in private collections nationally and has won awards in local exhibits.

“I absorb what is going on around me. My travels in Asia have had an influence, the desert sun in New Mexico also, I like to think of it as ‘when spirit meets earth’. I have been working with a limited palate for a number of years, this year I have expanded that palate. I am surprised by what the addition of color to my palate has brought me, my work is lighter and more of the earth. The medium of collage with acrylic offers layering and using diverse materials, rice paper, my photos and sumi are incorporated.”

Merrily’s work reflects sensitivity and personal involvement. She suggests, giving a hint of intent, allowing the viewer the opportunity to react personally to the image.

About Kirkland Performance Center

Responsive to the cultural needs of the community, Kirkland Performance Center provides a home for the presentation, support and promotion of the performing arts. Located in downtown Kirkland, this 402-seat theatre hosts more than 250 music, theatre and dance performances each year from acclaimed regional, national and international artists. In addition to presenting performing arts, KPC conducts educational outreach programs through “A World of Arts”, a program designed to bring visiting artists into the classrooms for in-depth workshops. KPC also hosts a variety of community programs, including the King County Library Lecture Series and “Kids-at-Play”, an opportunity for students to perform in a professional setting at KPC. For more information and to review upcoming performances, please visit www.kpcenter.org.

The 2005-2006 Season is made possible in part by: Evergreen Healthcare, The Boeing Company, Woodmark Hotel on Lake Washington, Direct Mailing Solutions, Univar USA, King County Journal Newspapers, Northwest Aerials Gymnastics & Dance, Woodinville Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Merit Financial, Frontier Bank, Software 21, Oasis Complete Facilities Management, Western States Arts Federation/National Endowment for the Arts, ArtsFund, 4Culture, Washington State Arts Commission and generous support from The City of Kirkland.

# # #