Almost Wordless: Local Art Seen from Red Mug to Studio 15

Top two: Nissa Wick's paintings interpret Eric Archer's photos at the Red Mug.

Below: Eris Vafias works in a variety of media; on display at Studio 15.

Local Art Seen: Nissa Wick at the Red Mug and Andy Frye at the Atrium

Thursday evening I had a chance to take in the opening reception for Nissa Ellen Wick's new exhibition which is currently on display at the Red Mug. As it turns out this was Wick's first public show and the response was quite exceptional. If I heard correctly, as many as two-thirds of her pieces sold that first night.

Wick is a self-taught  emerging artist who works in acrylics. Her inspiration comes from nature as well as cityscapes. "The lake, of course, is a big inspiration," she recently told Maija Jensen of KUMD's Radio Gallery. Her show is called Shades of Duluth. To see more of her work visit Nissa Ellen Wick Art page on Facebook.

This month the Zeitgeist Atrium is displaying paintings by Andy Frye. Frye's work show him to be exploring a variety of abstract styles on a range of variously shaped surfaces. A black on white piece near the doorway to the Zuccone Theater clearly conveys a Jackson Pollock effect, though on a much smaller scale.

Like Wick, Frye has no formal training and operating on an intuitive level. His aim is for the viewer to engage each piece as "an abstract experience in optical sensation."

The first paintings here are by Wick and the latter by Frye, though you probably don't need me to tell you that. Try to grab a lunch at the Red Mug this week and check out Nissa Wick's work. Or if you need an after hours excuse, Wednesday evening they will have a piano man from 5:30 till 7:30 p.m.

Wick (black dress) discusses her work with fans.

Close-up from larger piece by Frye.

Another close-up showing layers of color, texture.

Colors of the day, a full-sized expression.

Meantime art goes on all around you. Discover it.