The exhibit “A View of One's Own” opening First Friday at the Canvas Gallery will display 20 new oil paintings by local artist Elise Tomlinson.  The exhibit will also display photos of alternate versions of many of the paintings including source photos and notes referring to specific changes made to the pieces over time. 

“People’s preference in art is incredibly varied.” Tomlinson said. “Someone will love a painting when it’s in a very early stage and then not like it as much when it’s finished.  I just have to go by what feels right to me.   Each piece goes through many transformations before it makes it to the gallery wall and if it doesn’t sell at the opening, I may continue to make changes to it for years to come.  For me a painting is never really “finished” until it’s no longer in my possession.”

The show will also feature a multimedia piece Tomlinson created collaboratively with REACH artists.  She started by painting a large canvas of an open window.  REACH artist then created their own visions of the “views from their window” onto small sheets of canvas paper during a class she attended with the artists.  These images were later scanned into a slideshow program and the finished pieces will be projected onto the painting of the open window during the reception.

“One of the central missions of the Canvas Community Art Studio and Gallery is inclusion…sharing the experience of creating and exhibiting art with people of all ages, skill levels and abilities” Tomlinson said, quoting loosely from The Canvas’s mission statement.  I hope more artists who display work at the Canvas will choose to include the REACH artists in their exhibits.  They are a talented and inspirational group of people to work with.” Tomlinson said.

“A View of One's Own" will be on display at The Canvas Gallery located at 223 Seward St. in Downtown Juneau.  There will be an opening reception June 4th from 4:30-7:30pm and the works will remain on display through the month of June.  The show is free and open to the public.