Oct. 4-30: "Tangible Identities" at the ARTery

Posted 9.29.12

Photos by TAMIE BELDUE

On October 4, a new exhibit of encaustic drawings fills the ARTery space of the Asheville Area Arts Council (AAAC). Featuring 23 pieces by Tamie Beldue from her “Tangible Identities” series as well as 5 of her additional drawings, this exhibit speaks of ethereal realism and the human form. Tamie focuses on the expression and poses of the model and visible articulation of oftentimes ineffable emotion. She uses background as a design element and sense of space in which the sitter exists.

A reception rings in the event on October 5, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. during which attendees can admire up close Tamie’s artistic process. Each finished piece comes from a process with several steps. Tamie applies the encaustic medium without pigment on top of her graphite and watercolor drawings that have been mounted on wood. Once the original piece is mounted on wood, she then gives the drawing a “clouded” look by applying multiple layers of the encaustic medium. Tamie doesn’t end here. The artist highlights portions of the portrait that she recalls with great clarity from the time she spent with the model by scraping back the wax. With only a thin layer of wax, these areas are as clear and detailed as they were on the original graphite or watercolor drawing.

Tamie earned her bachelor of fine arts in drawing and printmaking at Columbus College of Art & Design and then her masters' at the University of Cincinnati. A three-time winner of the Art Renewals Drawing Salon, Tamie is currently assistant professor of art at UNC-Asheville. Her exhibitions have been featured throughout the country, including appearances at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art Realism Biennial, Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, and William King Museum. She has several permanent collections, including one at Lessedra Gallery in Bulgaria and the Arnot Art Museum.

“I believe that reality is fundamentally immeasurable: the model lives and changes, and should not be frozen in time,” reads Tamie’s artist statement. Visitors to this gallery will be struck by Tamie’s careful and deliberate use of wax to depict each model’s slight motion, experienced while in pose.  

The "Tangible Identities" exhibit runs from October 4 to October 30 and is free to the public. Hours are Tuesday-Friday 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The ARTery Gallery is located at 346 Depot Street in Asheville. For more information, visit ashevillearts.com. To find out more information on Tamie Beldue and view more of her pieces, visit online at tamiebeldue.com.