Beth Edwards: 15 Years of Painting

"My work seeks to imbue a cast of invented characters, based on vintage dolls, with human presence. For this to happen, they need to exist in their own right and reveal themselves as subjects rather than the objects from which they originate," said Beth Edwards at the beginning of her artist statement referring to her exhibit. The exhibit, titled "15 Years of Painting" is available in the Contemporary Art Museum that is located in the Humanities Building at the St. Louis Community College-Meramec campus.

This exhibit will be available until December 5. There will also be an artist talk at noon on December 5.

It is open to the public Monday- Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Edwards is a master of the fine arts, and has studied abroad in Italy, Rome, to name a few, as well as Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from which she received her bachelor's degree. Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, is where Edwards went on to receive her master's degree.

She began teaching in 1987 at The University of Dayton and went on to begin teaching at the University of Memphis, where she teaches today, beginning in the year 2000.

Edwards asks the viewer to "empathize with their plights and appreciate their situations as one would characters in a film" while looking at her artwork.

Mary Davis is a career student. She also works at the gallery and sees fantasy when she looks at Edward's work.

"It is colorful and cheerful. It makes you think, and you can read your own fantasy into it, which is neat," says Davis.

She hopes that all viewers feel the same about the exhibit: imaginative.

Edwards' works mainly are expressed using bright and bold color.

She focuses mainly on design. For example when showcasing close up views of clothing there is time and thought put into the design of buttons, lace trim and bows. They are very simply done, yet remain full of thought and emotion.

Even though her work is simple, there is much more going on in that tableaux than the eye may see.

"The characters are situated in landscapes- often fantastical and emotional states range from pure pleasure to visible distress," said Edwards in her statement.

"You can read whatever you want into it and enjoy it," said Davis explaining what it offers visually.

The exhibit's opening reception was on Nov. 14 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. "If you count everyone who came in, I would say 50 plus. Not as many as normal," said Davis commenting on the low attendance at the opening. "As always food was served, the usual cake, punch, a fruit tray and a cheese tray," said Davis.

"Out of the past exhibits this year, this is my favorite. This one is really neat. This is a feel good exhibit," said Davis.