For nine years after 9-11, San Jose artist Laurie Barna used the Statue of Liberty as her muse and model for more than 100 paintings. Two of the paintings in Barna’s “Liberty Series” are among the works in the annual juried art exhibit at Dove Art Gallery in Milpitas.
Barna, who has exhibited other works from the series at the gallery, has said she wants people who view the paintings to feel their impact from across the room and to ask, “What is she trying to say?”
The Almaden Valley resident has had works in multiple shows at the Milpitas venue, and not all of them were from her “Liberty Series,” which she concluded in 2010 after making 117 paintings. Barna also uses watercolors to create still lifes and capture nature scenes.
Barna is among 80 artists in the juried show, set to open Feb. 13. The exhibit features artworks in diverse styles and media by adult and student artists.
Milpitas artist Mythili Kattupalli is displaying several artworks, including an acrylic painting titled “Trapped.” The painting reflects her emotions after being secluded during the pandemic and depicts the dichotomy of despair and hope symbolized by a human butterfly emerging from a dark cocoon into a world of vibrant color.
Student works in the exhibit include “Frog on a Leaf,” a drawing by Cindy Xu, 10, which shows a colorful tree frog illuminated by a moonlit night.
The exhibit opens Feb. 13, noon-3 pm at Dove Art Gallery, Park Victoria Church, 875 S. Park Victoria Drive, in Milpitas. The gallery will be open every Sunday, noon-3 pm, through April 17. Contact [email protected] for more information.
