Rallou Malliarakis "ILLUMINATIONS"

First Street Gallery

poster for Rallou Malliarakis "ILLUMINATIONS"

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Branches lit by sunlight or a street lamp at dusk, dawn, or late evening; the image of a wintry tree emerging into view after an early morning shower; a stark cluster of summer trees against the side of a brilliant orange shed: whether the environment is urban or rural, Rallou Malliarakis’ recent paintings depict an array of trees and their branches at alternating times of day, lit by varying sources of light, and set in different locations.

In her last exhibition at First Street Gallery, the artist explored the characteristics of birch trees in deep forest settings, paying particular attention to the architectural arrangements of these powerful pillars as they appear in nature, and to the dramatic realities of peeling bark. In her new work, on view from April 27th through May 22nd, Malliarakis has shifted focus from trunk to branch, from bold mass to delicate, intricate structures that clearly define the complexity of trees and their graceful presence in the world. Her use of color is never literal, but rather explorative, subjective, and expressive.

How trees with their expansive, unruly branches are transformed by light, and how they are affected by weather or time of day, is the dominant theme of this lyrical exhibition. The images are brought to life free from purely factual description; despite the artist’s figurative references, her paintings convey an imaginative, abstract quality that suggests intriguing ambiguities in many of the pieces that are on view at First Street Gallery.

[Image: Rallou Malliarakis "Nocturne with Illuminated Branches" (2009) Oil on linen, 32 x 48 in.]

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Schedule

from April 27, 2010 to May 22, 2010

Opening Reception on 2010-04-29 from 17:00 to 20:00

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