Balance, Beauty and Bountiful art down at D&M

There is no need to travel to the Louvre or the Metropolitan Museum of Art to delve into vivid and meaningful pieces of art. This past Tuesday, February 23, a new gallery opened at D&M. This gallery features the works of Tarrah Robillard and Bailey Whitehill.

The gallery's opening featured delicious treats and live music by Alexi Kimiatek, but it didn't end there. For lucky attendees of the opening, the artists were there to see the reactions of those that came to view their art and to answer any questions about their work.

The gallery featured musically themed photography that was taken and Photoshopped by Whitehill and aesthetically pleasing paintings produced by Robillard. Even though the two make different types of art Whitehill says that it all is in the same gallery because "The work goes well together." The two artists both use vivid colors in their work, whether it is the way Whitehill uses bright colors to grab your attention or the way Robillard uses color to "balance beauty and reality."

The photography that Whitehill produces is all themed with music. Some of the photos were taken at shows such as Phish or Bassnectar, and others she took of her friends. The photo "Get Into the Groove," in which Whitehill uses a photo of a daisy and brightly colors, is paired with a picture of Kimiatek playing the guitar. The photo of Alexi shows over that of the flower and is repeated across the photo.

Whitehill's choices for the gallery were clear, as she stated enthusiastically, "Terry Downs is the man!" Terry Downs is an art professor at Plymouth and Whitehill took a class with him over Winterim, which really helped her to work with Photoshop and create many of the pieces she used for the gallery.The art that Robillard produces shows bright, abstract artwork full of bold color. In the painting, "Ocean and Land Gyre," Robillard explains that it represents all of the plastic going into the Pacific Ocean. The issue is controversial, but is a challenging topic which Robillard portrays well. The painting is pleasing to the eye while showing her feelings towards this big issue.

Realism and still life art are Robillard's other passion. She says that the realist artist Aponovich is the inspiration for her work. One of the most stand-out pieces of art at the gallery is her still life painting, "Hopeful Window." This painting has a big focus on the use of color and the beauty in the world around us all.This gallery will be open for another week in D&M on the second floor. It is located in the Collins Gallery and can't be missed. "Moonlight" and "Ocean and Land Gyre" are two pieces that should absolutely be checked out.