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Linda Muñoz and Rhys Green Reception at the Kentuck Museum

Kentuck Gallery presents works by mosaic artists Linda Munoz and Rhys Greene. An opening reception will be held October 1, 2009 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The exhibit will run through October 31, 2009 and features a series of mosaic quilts.

Linda Munoz, owner of Little River Arts Studio in Mentone, AL, has worked in the medium of glass for over 25 years. Her artistic journey began prior to her introduction to glass, however. Working as a night supervisor in a psychiatric hospital, she watched her staff nursing assistants as they pieced quilts to pass the long hours between patient checks. She found the process to be irresistible and had soon pieced her own "Lone Star" quilt. She has won awards for her pictorial quilt designs. The geometrical designs of quilts are readily apparent in much of her glass art. Many of her fused glass jewelry designs explore pattern, texture and color, much as one would find in a quilt. She has taught stained glass mosaic art to children for the last 8 years, and most recently was an art instructor at the Alabama Blues Project Summer Camp in Tuscaloosa. She designed and has collaborated with Rhys Greene on the creation of the "Kentuck Tree Mosaic" on the wall of the Gallery at Kentuck.

"Vibrant patterns, textures and colors are vital elements in my glass artwork, " states Munoz. "Coming from a family in which quilting was a much loved and practiced art form, I have come to create mosaic and fused glass art pieces inspired by the lines, shapes and colors of the quilts that I lived with as a child. This is a reason I find it important to impart my love of glass art to the children that I teach. This show offers the opportunity to further explore the marriage of the two art forms I most love: quilts and glass!"

Rhys Greene exhibits and sales her work in numerous galleries throughout Alabama and Georgia. She teaches classes from her rural studio near Gordo, Alabama. Greene completed eight mosaic panels for "The Garden of Peace" at St. Michaels Episcopal Church in Fayette, Alabama. With funding from the Black Belt Community Foundation, Greene as well as children in her workshop completed six mosaic benches that were presented to the City of Gordo as the city's first public art. Greene and Munoz both teach mosaics at the Alabama Folk School and are both collaborating on the "Kentuck Tree Mosaic."

"My 'mosaic art journey' began ten years ago, " states Greene. "I find mosaics to be a creative outlet which lends itself to time spent in personal introspection and contemplation. It is also rewarding to collaborate with others on group and community projects. I like creating 'one of a kind' art! I want my work to be esthetically pleasing and to evoke positive emotions. It pleases me when my art causes the viewer to smile and a spontaneous laugh is the 'icing on the cake' for me."

Art Night is the first Thursday of each month and celebrates the opening of all exhibits in downtown Northport galleries. Along with the opening reception, Munoz and Greene will be working on a mosaic bench in the Kentuck Courtyard. Kentuck studio artists will host their monthly Open Studios for visitors to see works in progress. Meet the artists and see the actual workspaces where the artists apply materials, design, technique and equipment to the creative process. Music by Brice Miller, cob oven goodies and the Tuscaloosa Paranormal Group will be in the Kentuck Courtyard.



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