STEP UP GALLERY News:

Step Up Gallery at Mesa Public Library invites the public to view renowned artist Catherine Eaton Skinner’s rich interpretations of the balance among the five elements: water, ether, earth, fire, and wind, in her solo show, Earth is the Magnet of the Sky. The show opens to the public June 13 and continues through July 24.

Skinner invites the community to attend the opening reception, 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday, June 14, with a gallery talk by the artist at 2:30 p.m., which will be video-recorded and uploaded to Step Up Gallery’s YouTube Channel. To review all artist talks by past exhibitors, visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCERx1XrO5N5NV4gE7bqm9Jw.

Skinner’s career began with a degree in biology from Stanford and 20 years as a professional biological illustrator in the Pacific Northwest. At the same time, while raising a family, she pursued training in various fine arts disciplines through workshops led by accomplished artists. Her multi-disciplinary practice expanded to incorporate painting, encaustic, printmaking, photography, and sculpture using cast glass and bronze. Some of the materials she employs include beeswax, resin, graphite, oil sticks, stones, lead sheeting, precious metal leaf, textiles, old book pages, handmade papers, and natural found materials.

Skinner’s artistic and philosophical journey has spanned over 60 years. She splits her creative time between two studios, one in Santa Fe and the other in Seattle.

Skinner writes poetry and prose as well that has often been published with her art in exhibitions and press. In 2016, Skinner published a monograph called “108” featuring 108 encaustic works created over 14 years, exploring the spiritual and mathematical significance of the number 108. It is available to borrow both at Mesa Public Library and the White Rock branch.

Step Up Gallery (https://stepupgallery.org) is on the top level of Mesa Public Library in Los Alamos, at 2400 Central Ave. The gallery is during regular library hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and 1-5 p.m., Sunday.

Albedo II by Catherine Eaton Skinner. Courtesy photo

Eastern Poplar by Catherine Eaton Skinner. Courtesy photo