Artwork by Chelsea Tolin, left, and Jill Waldrep
The High Street Gallery will host an exhibition of paintings and drawings by Chelsea Tolin and Jill Waldrep, 7-10 p.m., Oct. 13. The gallery is located in Victoria House, 2110 Victoria St. in Beaumont.
“I really like what I’ve seen from each of these artists, though their styles are different, and they may not have even had the chance to work together before,” Olivia Busceme, gallery director, said. “Both Chelsea and Jill have each created a separate body of work which I think will end up reflecting very nicely against each other. I’m excited to see how the pieces end up fitting together.”
After initially getting an education in musical theater, Waldrep has been self-taught in visual arts for the past three years, exploring the use of acrylics and more recently watercolors.
Waldrep has titled her collection “Fighting for Self.” She describes it as sensual, exploratory, resilient, honest, raw, and her main inspiration has been her self.
“More specifically, my physical body and the battle I go into every morning to stay afloat,” she said. “Diving into the female form was brought on exactly a year ago after painting myself in a moment of despair after my third surgery. It changed my life, literally. I am also extremely inspired by nature, its cycles, and our human connection to it.
Tolin’s collection for this show is titled “Contemplating My Status Quo.”
“While I was making the art for this show, I was thinking about what I’d like to do as my status quo after college,” she said. “Do I still want to work in concept art for movies or television? Do I want to go work for an illustration or design firm? Or do I want to travel the world on my own boat doing freelance? So this show is really me exploring the type of art I want to make in life and trying to better myself through my art.”
Beaumont native Tolin currently studies graphic design at University of North Texas but attributes much of her art education to a friend and former teacher Roy Bares. Influences also include nature, family and movies, especially the work of Hayao Miyazaki.
“I think that Ghibli movies edge out Disney movies almost completely because they’re just so powerful and each one just gets better — also the female heroines were very inspiring,” Tolin said. “I also grew up with a love for Walt Disney’s work and how he approached characters. Movies in general have been a big part of my life and how I set up my pieces in both color and composition.”
Entry is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be available at the event. The exhibition will be on display for one night only, and work will be for sale by each of the artists.
“My largest hope with any of my work is that it makes people, especially women, truly think about the way they look at themselves, the way they talk to themselves and the way they treat themselves,” Waldrep said. “Then, after looking inward, they think about the impact we each have on our environment and people around us with our thoughts, words and actions.
“I hope they find their SELF and light.“
For more information, email victoriahousetx@ gmail.com, or visit the High Street Gallery Facebook page.