JRB Art at the Elms Presents Haley Prestifilippo, Douglas Elder, & "After Hours Part I"
February 23, 2018 - Trina Morrison
JRB Art at The Elms Presents
Two Solo Shows
Haley Prestifilippo: “Powdered Graphite”
Douglas Shaw Elder: “OKecoScapes”
And a Group Show of doctors, lawyers and other professionals who paint “After Hours”
OKLAHOMA CITY – An opening reception will be held for two solo shows featuring Haley Prestifilippo and Douglas Shaw Elder in conjunction with a group show entitled “After Hours I” from 6-10 pm, Mar. 2 during the Paseo Arts District’s First Friday Gallery Walk. The exhibitions will be on view through Sunday, Apr 1. The exhibit, opening reception and artist talks are free to the public, as a part of JRB Art at the Elms’ Beyond Art Series.
Haley Prestifilippo’s highly detailed graphite works often depict ambiguously narrative scenes in which animals are trapped in moments of upheaval and uncertainty. A native of Augusta, GA, she received her BFA from the University of Notre Dame in 2009 and her MA from Eastern Illinois University the following year. She moved to Norman in 2011 and has been overwhelmed by the welcoming attitude of the Oklahoma arts community. Since that time, she has worked to build a career as well as a family, with the creation of her first solo exhibition coinciding with the birth of her first child in 2013. She currently teaches classes at the University of Oklahoma as well as at Firehouse Art Center in Norman. Haley’s drawings range in size from 5”x 5” to 40” x 54” and reflect a culmination of her desire to experiment with graphite, her curiosity about the hidden secrets of the cosmos, as well as a deep interest in baroque still lives, especially the genre of vanitas.
Utilizing an abstract perspective, Douglas Shaw Elder’s exhibition, OKecoSCAPES, (SCAPES) observes the cycles of nature that inevitably direct all life forms. This series contemplates the specific transformative forces of creation and growth and their counterparts, destruction and erosion. Organic and dark in character, SCAPES conveys the sense of the raw, unalterable power of nature - its splendor, its force, and its sheer magnitude.
SCAPES began as large relief sculptures carved from layered polychrome plywood. Recently, the focus has shifted to an exploration of Oklahoma’s unique ecosystems, specifically depicting the diverse visual landscapes the state has to offer. The most recent series of SCAPES, currently operating under the title OKecoSCAPES, evolved naturally from the visual themes of the pieces Douglas has been creating for the past several years. All these works are influenced by forces of nature, contemplated through experiential art making, and resulting in raw and organic finished drawings and carvings.
Elder is a working artist, primarily producing drawings and sculpture, who has exhibited nationally and internationally, and has been the Executive Director of the Firehouse Art Center in Norman, Oklahoma since 2007. Elder, a U.S. Army veteran who received his MFA from Boston University, is also an arts educator and visual arts advocate.
“After Hours” part I, an exhibition of professionals in law, fashion, health care, investments, state government, architecture, construction, philanthropy and urban planning who create art after work hours will be featured in a two-part group show at The Elms during March and April. The participants include Arden Barrett, Bryan Boone, George Benard, Ike Bennett, Torrey Butzer, Sara Cowan, Louisa McCune, Nick Wu, John Seward, Pam Troup, Heather Lunsford and Molly O’Conner.
Next Exhibits
On April 6th, JRB Art will host Janice Mathews-Gordon and Carlos Tello featuring experimental mixed media paintings. May brings perennial favorite Beth Hammack with her expressive abstract paintings, Kathy Rodgers a mixed media artist and ceramicist Gayle Singer.
About JRB Art at the Elms
JRB Art at The Elms presents a diverse roster of emerging, established, and internationally exhibited artists who create in a wide range of media including: paintings, drawings, sculpture, ceramics, glass, fine crafts, functional objects, fiber art and photographs. This 8,000-square foot award-winning gallery in Oklahoma City’s Paseo Arts District changes its exhibits monthly in a gracious environment that fosters a dialogue between the arts and the larger community while providing quality art for first time buyers as well as individual, corporate and museum collections.
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