Press Release

NEW ORLEANS - Heriard-Cimino Gallery presents “Drop - Half Drop,” new paintings by Deborah Pelias. This exhibition will be on view from January 8 through February 2, 2011. A reception to meet the artist will be held on Saturday, January 8 from 6 until 8 p.m. The public is invited. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 until 5, or by appointment.

In this exhibition Deborah Pelias uses the simple paint drop to create complex patterns, each painting a captivating experience, from cerebral abstract markings to symbolic textile imagery of the Middle East and Europe. There is an architectural approach employed in her building of these paintings. Pelias begins by creating the underlying patterns of colored paint drops. These drops are covered with various paint media. The painting is then sanded, ultimately revealing or in some cases veiling the essential pattern. Pelias explains, “I chose a simple repeat pattern because should some drops remain buried, the viewer would understand that the drops still exist even if they are not seen - the broken pattern remains whole because it is anticipated.” In viewing her work, Pelias’s rigorous approach to the inner structure of the paintings is particularly compelling, yet ultimately the paintings are contemplative and serene in their simplicity.

Deborah Pelias was born in New Orleans, LA, where she received her B.A. from the University of New Orleans and where she currently works and resides. Her paintings can be found in numerous private and public collections throughout the country. This is Deborah Pelias’s fifth solo exhibition at Heriard-Cimino Gallery.