The Community Gallery at the Confluence hosts artist Leslie Ahrens and her body of work. Ahrens brings to her show many sculpted raku wall hangings, porcelain sculpture and acrylic paintings. Her show opens on September 29 with an art reception from 5-8pm.

Ahrens grew up sculpting in a family of artists. Though never classically trained, she has spent the greater part of her life playing with clay. It was only when she retired that Ahrens began her career as an artist.

Over the last few months, Ahrens has tried her hand at portrait painting. Similar to her sculpture subject matter, she begins with the face of the portrait and then the work decides the final piece. According to Ahrens, “[I begin] sculpting the faces first and then letting them tell me what they wanted to be.”

Ahrens’s process does not end with a piece coming out of the kiln or once she frames a painting however; “It is my belief that my work is never complete until it finds that one person it was made for and that person recognizes it and knows that they must have it in their lives, “ said Ahrens. “I love to see this in their eyes when they meet for the first time as is the very best reward an artist can have.”

The Ahrens Ahrens Community Gallery show opens in tandem with the Strange Couplings Main Gallery exhibit.

 

(Artwork: Artist Leslie Ahrens presents her raku works as well as paintings in the upcoming Community Gallery show opening September 29.)

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DATES: Opening reception: Sept 29, 5-8pm.  Exhibit Sept 29-Nov 10. LOCATION: Confluence Gallery, Twisp, WA. CONTACT:  www.ConfluenceGallery.com.