By Katie Winkler
Review Staff Writer
In her first solo show at the Orion Art Center, Lake Orion artist Laura Locke will be displaying her unique pieces, created with layered fabrics.
‘The actual figures are created from fabric. It is sort of like a layering. The different light and darks to create the images and a lot of times they do tend to look photo realistic. Sometimes I use old books that are ripped apart, old magazines or ads, vintage fabrics like lace and things like that on my canvases. Initially, I found inspiration through old photos from the early 19th century, early 20th, say 1910, 1920. Now I am taking a lot of my own photos with sort of a vintage inspiration to them,? Locke said.
Prior to her most recent artistic style, Locke worked with Mosaic pieces and made children’s clothing out of vintage materials and fabrics. Locke has shown her pieces at other venues during solo shows including Lennon Photo and Art Capsule in Oxford, along with numerous exhibitions at the Orion Art Center.
Locke was recently awarded Orion Art Center’s Artist of the Year for her one-of-a-kind vintage ephemera type work, which Locke considered ‘thrilling.?
‘I would say my art is an exploration into human emotions and, to me, I think my art is more about looking at the human experience and the connection. I don’t like to explain each individual piece. I want people to be able to make their own connections and get what they can out of my art. It is always something different for every person. That is the neat thing for me; not to tell people what it is about but for them to tell me what they think it is about,? Locke said.
Orion Art Center director Lauren Dinneweth looks forward to having Locke’s artwork displayed since her pieces are ‘wonderful and compelling. She has a very unique voice how she is able to convey emotion with the fabric she uses and vintage elements in her mixed media artwork,? Dinneweth said.
According to Locke, this solo show will allow her to interact with the art community of Lake Orion and express her feelings and thoughts. Locke’s work started showing July 9 and will extend until August 13, with a meet the author reception on July 17 from 7-9 p.m.