Flourish Studios mixes education, psychology, retail and art in its bright Lakeview location. Tania Rodamilans, a local artist, exhibits three small collections in the gallery. Rodamilans’ art is mainly collage, and through the use of layered fabric, cracking acrylic over watercolor, wood canvases and foreign stamps she creates a dynamic depth to her work. “Chair Talk” incorporates cut-out chairs, seen largely in Rodamilans’ early work. In “Closet Secrets” the most dramatic of the collection, Rodamilans pastes a pair of jeans and paint brushes to the canvas. Paint sparkles over fabric netting in “Pink Hell” creating a chaotic “Alice in Wonderland” feel. Many of the paintings seem to be split in two vertically, creating two stratums; this technique adds a complexity that many watercolors lack. “Journeys,” the second collection, is composed of imprinted leaves and sponges that differentiate sky and sea. A common theme in Rodamilans’ art is travel and “London” is an intriguing representation of the artist’s view of the city. The final collection “Natura,” Rodamilans’ latest work, is comprised of larger canvases and simpler techniques than her other two collections. The colors of the Everglades-themed paintings are vibrant and reflect the beauty of nature. Rodamilans’ paintings catch the light in a most alluring way—they seem to shine and come alive in the simple gallery space. (Rachel Turney)
Through July 31 at Flourish Studios, 3020 N. Lincoln Ave, (773)281-8140.
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