Artists: Ashley Anderson and Sophia Grecco

Exhibition: Lucky Place for a Grave

Media: Mixed Media

Gallery: Merlino Gallery

Ashley Anderson and Sophia Grecco are Undergraduate students in the Illustration and Graphic Design program at California State University Long Beach. Anderson and Grecco claim that folktales have “leached into our perception of reality,” and attempt to use their exhibit, “Lucky Place for a Grave,” to “critique, restructure, and illustrate the histories [that] have informed our sense of self.

Through out their exhibit, the artists used pastel watercolor and mixed media to create most of their pieces. The lines were clear and jagged. Most of the pieces were painted in a circular shapes and had lots of little details. The pieces had a lot of rhythm and body for being on such a small surface. The art was very sinuous, like you’d see in a folktale. All of the illustrations are small, so you have to get close to see and appreciate the details.

They tried to target the way that folktale and mythical beliefs have shaped our society and beliefs. The use of pastel colors was a calming, soothing way of getting their message across. Their exhibit works to challenge peoples beliefs and allowing them to be open to change.

I think it was nice to see something different at the gallery. The artists created pieces that were very delicate, yet enticing. I think that challenging folktales was something creative and diffidently a different approach to the way I view my beliefs. It showed how many of our beliefs derive from old folktale.