Solo Exhibit For Deerfield Artist Opens In North Shore

DEERFIELD, IL — The Gallery Lake Forest announced "Wax Poetic," a solo exhibition of new and past works by encaustic artist Karen Ross, is currently on display. It marks the first solo exhibit in Lake Forest for the Deerfield resident.

The artist is a graduate of University of Maryland, as well as Boston University, and is affiliated with Deerpath Art League, The Art Center Highland Park, Art Makers North, North Shore Art League, Art Encounter, and the Chicago Alliance of Visual Arts.

Ross, a licensed psychotherapist, has also been featured in publications and has served as a guest speaker in artist talks.

The spring exhibition centers on encaustic work, a medium described as derived from the Greek word enkaustikos, meaning "to heat or burn in." The process is slower and more laborious than many other forms of 2-dimensional artwork and is technically difficult to master.

The gallery said the works in the show explore moments of change tied to spring.

"Emergence is defined as the process of coming into view or becoming exposed after being concealed, a concept that aligns the coming of spring with the actual process of creating encaustic art," Ross said.

According to organizers, "Wax Poetic: Encaustic Art by Karen Ross" is co-curated by Vickie Marasco, founder of Art Impact Project, a past gallery director and arts supporter. Ross and Marasco share a belief in art's therapeutic value and work together at Art Impact Project, whose mission is to enhance emotional wellness through creative expression.

An opening reception is scheduled for 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. April 16, at The Gallery Lake Forest, 202 E. Wisconsin Ave.