First capstone exhibit opens at Nightingale

‘Synergy’ exhibition brings three students’ work together

Mary Edwards
“Nectar to Honey,” 2018
acrylic, latex paint additive, silicone, and canvas (2 x 4 feet)

March 28, 2019 LA GRANDE, Ore. –  The first capstone exhibit of 2019, “Synergy” opens April 5 in the Nightingale Gallery. The exhibit will be a combination of works by senior art majors Mary Edwards, Alexandra Tsiatsos and Amanda Welch. Their works consist of fiber arts, photography and painting.

Mary Edwards has lived in La Grande on and off for 11 years. In 2017, she moved back from Portland, to earn her degree in art at Eastern Oregon University. She has participated in group exhibitions at Art Center East and The Josephy Center for Arts and Culture.

Edwards considers herself a 2-D media artist and has made painting her primary focus. Her current work is an exploration of her interest in psychedelia, biology and ecological relationships. Edwards said her inspiration comes from a curiosity about existence and why we are here. In her paintings, she depicts various interdependent organic relationships surrounded by vibrational multicolored environments. This vibrancy stems from the idea that all matter is composed of condensed alternating vibrations that come together to create life.

Alexandra Tsiatsos
“Desolation”
Digital photograph, matte photo paper (16” x 24”)

Alexandra Tsiatsos was born and raised in La Grande. She attended Treasure Valley Community College after high school, where she received her Associate of Arts Degree and is working toward earning a bachelor’s degree from EOU. During her junior year in 2018, Tsiatsos presented her work in the show, “Distinct Entities” held at Art Center East in La Grande. While she spent many years focusing on painting, photography has recently become her main interest.

Her latest series revolves around the idea of consumption, isolation and self-validation, and how these concepts are connected with what goes on behind a screen. Tsiatsos’ black and white photos aim to capture the striking, almost disturbing grasp that technology has on most people, and to trigger the question, “Are we the ones in control?”

Amanda Welch is originally from Spokane, where she earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Web Design. Now a mother of four, she has returned to school to obtain her bachelor’s degree from EOU. She also teaches at Art Center East and home-school art classes from her home studio.

Amanda Welch
“Motherhood,”
(Detail) 2018-2019 brewed &
cyanotyped tea bags, thread
(approximately 60” x 80”)

Welch’s current work reflects her experiences as a mother. While her materials vary from brewed tea bags to cyanotypes, the pieces are all sewn together. By combining the traditionally feminine task of embroidery with non-traditional materials, she creates a unique contrast that explores the thoughts, feelings and physical changes of motherhood.

“Synergy” runs from April 5 to 19 in the Nightingale Gallery, located in Loso Hall at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, Ore. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. For more information, visit eou.edu/art/nightingale-gallery or follow the Nightingale Gallery on Facebook and Instagram.

To request images of artwork for publication or to schedule an interview with the artist please contact Gallery Director Cory Peeke at cpeeke@eou.edu.