Community Arts Center to exhibit paintings by Nicole Yarroch

HANCOCK -- "Lost in the Garden," an exhibition of paintings by Nicole Yarroch, is the new exhibit in the Kerredge Gallery at the Copper Country Community Arts Center through Sept. 3. A reception will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 4.

Penguin, by Nicole Yarroch. (Image courtesy Community Arts Center)

Nicole Yarroch received her Bachelors of Fine Art from Kendall College of and Art and Design in 2009. Working primarily with gouache and oil paints, Yarroch's work examines the often tense relationships between humans and the natural world. Her works are two-dimensional dioramas, filled with unexpected combinations of flora and fauna.

"My diorama paintings seek to address the ways we humans have altered the natural world," Yarroch says. "By seeking to control and box in the wild, we have become more distant and ignorant of the complex workings of nature. I hope these paintings will encourage the viewer to foster a real connection with the physical world, one that extends beyond the artificial environments found in dioramas."

Her paintings have been influenced by the exotic jungle landscapes of Henri Rousseau and the colorful gardens of Pierre Bonnard.

This exhibit is supported in part by a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. The Community Arts Center is located at 126 Quincy Street in Hancock. Hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. For more information call 482-2333 or visit www.coppercountryarts.com.