Artist name

"BY INVITING VIEWERS INTO MY NARRATIVE OF A HYPERACTIVE COMFORT ZONE, I HOPE TO FOSTER CURIOSITY & INVITE INTROSPECTION."

The Emily Monk Davidson Gallery at the Farmville Community Arts Council is pleased to present Solace by Way of Wonder II, an exhibition of artworks by Shayla Thornton, alongside a limited presentation of the gallery's March exhibit, Momentary Certainty by Jason Hack. Together, these bodies of work create a compelling dialogue through the deployment of abstraction, organic mark-making, & the vibrant interplay of color. 

Shayla Thornton, a mixed media artist from North Carolina, utilizes "watercolor, ink, and collage" to craft abstract forms that enable her to cope with anxiety while leaning into the wonders that await her internally and externally. 
Her "hyperactive line work" invites viewers to experience the euphoric relief she finds in her intricate and fluid line work. Organic lines converge to create a signature form that is featured in many of Thornton's pieces, known as "soul atoms." A first glance at these amalgamation of forms, their rendering might appear identical. Take a closer look. Each form is as distinct as an individual’s life experience. This exhibition marks a continuation of Thornton’s exploration of what it means to find comfort within "existential wonder," connecting her personal narrative to realities that she shares with her community.

In contrast, Jason Hack's Momentary Certainty serves as a reflective visual alphabet, shaped by his 25 years of medical study. His work creates "a visual space for viewers to contemplate the frictional gravity between focus, effort, understanding and initiation." Each piece invites contemplation on the "changeability and tension between belief and learning," emphasizing the delicate balance of form and flow. Hack's compositions juxtapose "ephemeral surface with shifting depth," inviting viewers to engage with the layers beneath the surface of perception.

Together, Thornton and Hack’s works encourage a rich exploration of how abstraction can articulate the complexities of human experience. Visitors will find themselves drawn into a shared space of introspection, where vibrant colors and organic forms echo the intricate tapestry of perception.