March-April 2007

Veiled

Veiled, an exhibition of paintings and mixed media works by Baltimore-based artist Erin Cluley, explores the nature of religion and its divergent symbols and rituals. Inspired by her up bringing in the Catholic Church, Cluley questions the religious values that shaped her existence, particularly the ritualistic practices of confession, penance, and the sacrament of the mass. A recent visit to the Alhambra, a group of palaces in southern Spain, informs Cluley’s use of tranquil ornamentation found in Moorish art. By utilizing light, shadow, and pattern metaphorically, she creates an atmospheric space for rigidity and expansiveness to coexist. Inanimate adornment placed against veils of iconic characters found in Catholic art results in a spiritually textured and experimental style.