Artists Sarah Kirchner, Bethany Jones to exhibit "Shade," opening May 12 in Rozsa Gallery

HOUGHTON -- The public is invited to join the Rozsa Center at a reception with painters Sarah Kirchner and Bethany Jones, as they open an exhibition of their work titled "Shade," from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, in the Rozsa Gallery.

"Self Portrait," by Sarah Kirchner. (Photo courtesy Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts)

Both painters work in a very "painterly" style, using acrylics and sometimes oils and even encaustics, to sketch neo-impressionist portraits, landscapes, still-lifes, and animals.

Themes important to both artists currently are their recent re-locations to this region (Kirchner from Brooklyn, New York, and Jones from Madison, Wisconsin); their roles as mothers of toddler boys; and their work to balance life as working women, new mothers and artists.

"Lake Ripley, blue sky/lake," by Bethany Jones. Lake Ripley is in Cambridge, Wisconsin. (Photo courtesy Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts)

Sarah Kirchner is a painter and theater set designer with a passion for both. She is from Boston, Mass., and moved to the Houghton area with her partner, Gary, and two-year-old son, Jonah, in March 2011. Sarah received her BA in Drama from Tufts University and her MFA in Scenic Design from Tisch school of the Arts.

Bethany Jones is a painter and marketing professional originally from Detroit, Mich., who studied in France and in New York and earned her BFA from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. She also worked on her MFA at the Graduate School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Bethany moved to Houghton in January 2011 with her partner, Jeff, and two-year-old son, Jack. 

Please visit the Rozsa Gallery to see "Shade," on display from May 12 - June 25, 2012. This exhibit is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

This exhibit is sponsored by the James and Margaret Black Endowment.