Inspired by the flowing landscape and natural elegance of Iowa fields Mary Merkel-Hess is constantly developing her work and process. In this exhibit she shares with us new paper arrangements, larger than life basket forms and small 2D collage work. Opening reception is Oct 3 from 5-8pm as part of the Iowa City Gallery Walk.

Mary Merkel-Hess was born and raised in the farmlands of Iowa where the landscape is subject to endless fields of grass and corn. Inspired by these natural surroundings, she uses an original and unique application of reeds and paper to conjure images of slender grass and cultivated fields, also known as “landscape reports”. Fascinated by form and structure, Merkel-Hess seeks inspiration from the natural world, allowing her technique to mesh with these visual ideas to create something new that bridges the space between us and our environments.

Works by Mary Merkel-Hess have appeared in numerous national and international exhibitions. Her pieces are in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Museum of Art and Design, New York; Philadelphia Museum of Art; Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA; Racine Museum of Art, Racine, WI; and the Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC.

The Elegance show will be on exhibit at the Chait Galleries Downtown from October 3 to November 14, 2014.