shibumi+shibusa: April Higashi Jewlery + Aondrea Maynard Paintings 'Sea & Sky'

The 'Sea & Sky' show, an elegant and dreamy pairing of jewelry and paintings, will be up through December 04, 2011.

April Higashi, 'Ma' Brooch, painted enamel, oxidized silver, 18k yellow gold, diamond slices

Ma' is not something that is created by compositional elements; it is the thing that takes place in the imagination of the human who experiences these elements. It is best described as a consciousness of place, not in the sense of an enclosed three-dimensional entity, but rather the simultaneous awareness of form and non-form deriving from an intensification of vision

Aondrea Maynard, Midnight Swoon, oil on wood panel

My paintings are a visual dialogue between myself and the natural world, a narrative of my own inner journey and the metaphorical landscapes found there. Nature itself in perfect harmony has always been a powerfully soothing presence in my life, one that inspires my work continuously.

My paintings are portraits of dreams, memories, moments in silence and abstractions all infused with the appreciation and wonder of the beauty of this natural world, its unspoken wisdom and limitless grace.

April Higashi, Nori Necklace, enamel, pencil, oxidized silver, 1920's steel cut beads

This body of work is more direct, as coral-like branches are rendered to appear as if captured in a mist. The images are painted in layers using graphite, enamel and china paint. They are partially hidden creating an atmosphere of distance that asks the viewer to leave them to exist in their own quiet suspended space.