Beauty of the dark side explored at Independence Gallery

Many artists seek to shine a light on new ideas and concepts of beauty with their work. The current show at Loveland's Independence Gallery, however, seeks to accomplish those ambitions by instead keeping the gallery's visitors in the dark.

"Out of the Darkness" consists of paintings, photographs, glass pieces and other works that all share darkness as a primary subject, theme and element. Independence Gallery owner and painter Billie J. Colson said the pieces together provide varied representations and uses of darkness that challenge assumptions about darkness' aesthetic and artistic value.

"The show includes an interesting array of artist interpretations of darkness and lightness and what they can mean for beauty" said glassblower Linda Dzwigalski-Long, who has several pieces in the show. "Some of them have the whiteness part of the piece featured and the darkness as the background while others are the opposite in that the darkness and the shrouding is what is in the forefront with a subject coming out of that darkness."

Several of the artists, however, said it was that rich contrast that results from the juxtaposition of light and dark that had drawn them to using dark in their work.

David Newton's paintings are focused on outer space, with some depicting Earth, Mars and other planets against the pitch blackness of space that surrounds them. Another concept piece of his provides a scale representation of the distance (and darkness) between the Earth and the moon.

"It isn't depressing to me that space is so big and the Earth and planets are so far from each other," he said. "That blackness illustrates how wonderful it is that the planets exist and that they all have such significant differences that underscore the preciousness of what we have in the planets and this planet especially. I like for people to walk away and not be intimidated by the darkness but rejoicing in the light."

'Beautiful things come out of the darkness'

Dzwigalski-Long's dark violet and purple glass bowls also derive their striking appeal from the way the darkness and light within them bring out the beauty of each other, she said.

Colson, meanwhile, used blackness to create a striking portrait of her black lab, Jackson, emerging from darkness with only his highlights, eyes and collar visible. The exhibit also contains a photo of the milky way taken at Rocky Mountain National Park and pieces produced in a collaboration between photographer Rae Ann Garrett and artist Stuart Wallace, who traced over Garrett's photos of a dragonfly or other animals in ink. Garrett also contributed photos of subjects set against darkness, including one of a piece of fruit that Newton said makes the fruit appear to "be almost like a planet."

Colson said the pieces together provide a fitting showcase of the many ways darkness can be beautiful.

"One of the artists said when we started that she felt like it was going to be sort of a depressing show, and I said 'Oh, no, beautiful things come out of the darkness," she said.

Paul Albani-Burgio: 970-699-5407, palbani-burgio@reporter-herald.com