Student Exhibit, Mementos of Nature, at Gallery 231 November 20

Senior art student Crystal Hering will present a multimedia art exhibit, Mementos of Nature, at Central Washington University’s Gallery 231 November 20 to December 6. The opening reception will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 20; the exhibition is free to the public.

The gallery will hold a mix of painting, sculptural work, and drawings, all tied to the themes of collecting small relics found in the outdoors.

“I enjoy embracing the potential of these sometimes unassuming objects, through enlarging them and allow the viewer to see the new ornate worlds within them," Hering explained. “Collection and replication of nature is a human way of responding to the world. Many people collect small mementos of nature—pressed flowers, a preserved bug collection, shells from the beach, or simply a small acorn or rock that fits nicely into the palm of your hand.”

By creating art, Hering feels she can react to the world around her and create her own reality.

Hering is from originally from Portland, Oregon, but has found a wonderful connection to the art community in Ellensburg. She will be graduating from CWU this fall with a bachelor of fine arts in studio art, and a minor in museum studies. She is also a student in the Douglas Honors College. She has exhibited individual works at Gallery One, the Sarah Spurgeon Gallery, and the John Clymer Museum in Ellensburg. This is her first solo exhibition.

Mementos of Nature will remain on display through December 6, 2017 in Gallery 231, located on the second floor of Randall Hall. Randall can be found off of Dean Nicholson Boulevard and is open weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free.

Image: “Stag Beetle” oil painting by Crystal Hering, 2017

Media Contact: Valerie Chapman-Stockwell, Public Affairs, 509-963-1518, valeriec@cwu.edu