Silk Artist Headlines June's First Friday

Maureen Stathis can't actually recall when she began creating art, though as a shy, sensitive child she remembers being encouraged by her parents and teachers. Still, it wasn't until a dozen years ago that she “stumbled upon silk painting, the Serti technique in particular.”

Maureen Stathis

“I was immediately addicted to its intensity of color and the diversity it made possible,” she said recently, upon accepting an invitation from Gallery 54 to be its guest artist for the month of June. The resident of nearby Marietta, NY describes her work as “organic, nature inspired themes using layers of vibrant color.”

Silk art

All of the work that Maureen will showcase at the gallery, beginning with an opening reception Friday, June 2 from 5 to 8 pm, will be original designs of hand painted pieces. She notes, “Each piece, by nature of the process is truly unique.” The work is a combination of experimentation and processes used by silk artists Jean-Baptiste and Susan Moyer.

Maureen finds the most rewarding part of creating silk art to also be its most frustrating. “Despite careful planning and design, ” she says, “the medium in unpredictable and often has a mind of its own.” A graduate of SUNY Oswego, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a MS in creative arts therapy from Nazareth College Maureen has also taken courses in surface pattern design at Onondaga Community College and Syracuse University.

She has recently cut back on her work as an art therapist to devote more time to pursuing her own art which includes watercolor art, acrylic painted furniture and wood items and being “newly obsessed” with mosaic art.

Maureen will be on hand to greet visitors to Gallery 54 from 5 to 8 pm June 2. Music, wine and light refreshments will be served.

Gallery 54 is an upscale venue for Central New York artists that showcases and sells unique, inspired, and timeless art in a diversity of mediums. Gallery hours are Sunday through Thursday 10 am to 5 pm, Friday & Saturday 10 am to 6 pm.