THE MERCURIAL GALLERY in Danbury, Connecticut will be exhibiting the work of Phil Lique and Karin Mansberg, emerging artists working in etchings, paper and collage, sculpture, painting and illustration, from April 21 to June 1. Lique is a 2008 graduate of Western Connecticut State University’s Master of Fine Arts program, and Mansberg will be graduating from the program in the spring of 2013. The opening reception for the exhibition will take place on Saturday, April 21 from 5-7pm. Lique, 28, is a New Haven-based artist and professor who has shown extensively throughout Connecticut and New York. Before earning his Master’s in Painting and Sculpture at WestConn, Lique completed his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in graphic design at Paier College of Art and received the Ronald Nonken Award for Excellence in Graphic Design. Lique works in a variety of mediums; he creates sculptures from extension cords, wood, and nylon ropes and crafts intricate mixed media works with brightly colored and finely cut papers, graphic design elements, and hand illustrations. His pieces can be both beautiful and sardonic and provoke in viewers a nuanced look into American culture. Mansberg, 35, whose Master’s degree will be in Illustration, has been studying art for most of her life, first in her home country of Estonia and then at WestConn after moving to the United States in 1999. Mansberg’s work, delicate and somewhat dark, is reflective of childhood, nature and the evolving world. Much of her current work includes old book pages as material or as canvas, and her oil painting “Communication” was selected by the North Carolina Museum of Art for its ‘Self Observed’ show this past winter. “I believe all living things are connected as one; life is about finding or fighting the connections that are there.” -Karin Mansberg “Roadkill” by Phil Lique. 2011. “My paintings and drawings tell stories about feelings, and specific events in my life—or something more communicative with the world around myself,” says Mansberg. “We are constantly communicating our experiences about the world we live in; we tell stories to communicate things that are important to us. Stories, like ancient myths, are valuable tools of communication; they explain, comfort, and assure. My most personal images are about loneliness and struggle with immediate environment. I believe all living things are connected as one; life is about finding or fighting the connections that are there.” Lique and Mansberg’s exhibit reception will include an artist meet and greet, catering provided by Brigadoon Cafe, beer, wine and other refreshments. An accompanying music performance by Dabury-Bridgeport band The Selkie will take place in the gallery on Saturday, May 19 at 7pm. The Mercurial Gallery is located at 11 Library Place in Danbury, Connecticut. Regular gallery hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 11am-5pm and Saturday 1-5pm.