MEDINA, Ohio -- Elizabeth Gierosky opened an exhibition of her artwork Monday (Nov. 4) in the third-floor gallery of the Medina Library, 210 S. Broadway St. She considers her unusual artwork to be “impressionist reproductions” inspired by primitive artwork discovered in her travels around the world and reproduced from recycled materials.
A large display case holds Kachina dolls based on the spirit dolls originally made by Southwestern Native Americans. Gierosky’s dolls are playful, whimsical, brightly colored figures made from carved wood, cardboard, feathers and fabric.
Several masks inspired by African originals are displayed on the walls and in a glass case. Much of the recycled materials were collected by her husband, Paul, on the beaches of the Turks & Caicos Islands -- part of the Bahamas island chain. He scrounged rope, plastic containers, cork and fishing line, which Beth turned into breathtaking masks.
The work of folk artist Elizabeth Gierosky is on display at the Medina Library through Dec. 1. (Mary Jane Brewer, special to cleveland.com)
A form of art from Panama -- Mola, or reverse applique -- has been her inspiration for a series of colorful fabric fish and other figures on contrasting fabric backgrounds. The primitive fish are cut from felt and sewn onto the fabric background. They inspire smiles.
Another form of art has been modeled after artists in Haiti. Gierosky sewed thousands of beads and sequins onto a background to create very sparkly colorful figures. One artwork featured a butterfly with curling antennae, with a spider in a web in the background. “It takes forever," Gierosky said.
The exhibition is open to the public and will run through Dec. 1. Gierosky’s art is also on display at her private gallery, along with original folk art from around the world. For more information, email [email protected] to make an appointment to visit.
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