Madison Reporter

Carnelian Art Gallery in Madison, Wisconsin, is set to host its first exhibition of the year, titled "Finding Color In the Chaos." The event will commence with an opening reception at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 7. Light refreshments will be available.

The exhibition will feature works from local artists including Evan Bradbury, the gallery's curator and owner, as well as Jen Dunlop (also known as "Jen Sky Art"), Matthew Braunginn, Denise Presnell, and James Ackerman.

A highlight of this year's exhibition is a live painting session by Jen Dunlop. Emilie Heidemann, the gallery's marketing director, will also conduct poetry readings during the event. The two collaborated over winter to produce a book titled "The Secret Realm," which contains poems inspired by ten of Dunlop’s artworks. This form of art is known as ekphrastic art and is gaining popularity in Madison.

The live painting and poetry reading sessions are scheduled for 6 p.m. on March 7. Signed hardcover copies of "The Secret Realm" will be available for purchase at $25 each.

Emilie Heidemann expressed her excitement about the collaboration: “I am delighted to have worked with Jen to put together ‘The Secret Realm.’ This book marks not only a celebration of ourselves as artists but commemorates Carnelian Art Gallery’s one-year anniversary of operations in Madison."

Evan Bradbury reflected on the gallery's progress: “I can’t believe Carnelian Art Gallery has been in business for almost one year,” he said. “I want to send a huge thank you to our supporters, partners and the City of Madison for helping us grow.”

Bradbury enjoys creating abstract art using acrylic paints and other mediums. Dunlop uses tissue paper and iridescent acrylics in her abstract paintings. Braunginn focuses on abstract expressionism using acrylics on various canvases.