Artist Tamara Robertson was still hard at work installing her exhibit "Piece by Peace" at the South Arkansas Arts Center this week, logging eight-hour days between commutes from Shreveport to get her sculptures arranged inside the Price and Merkle galleries ahead of a reception that's planned in her honor this evening.
"They're all pretty labor-intensive," she said Thursday afternoon.
Robertson's exhibit opened Thursday evening, the first following SAAC's grand unveiling of its newly-renovated facility. Her work fills the two gallery spaces and ranges from installations covering the black walls to free-standing sculptures to light fixtures, and more.
"All this is like three-dimensional art," she said.
The vast majority of Robertson's pieces are made with found materials, such as magazine clippings, metal washers, seashells, plastic straws and more. One of the larger installations is made up of broken jars that, from a distance, appear to from a cascade of soap bubbles (at least to the untrained eye of this reporter).
Originally from Houston, Robertson earned her master's degree at Stephen F. Austin State University, and afterwards taught art at the college-level. She later left the profession to focus on her work full-time.
Robertson said she's previously exhibited her work throughout the South and in California.
"I'm really pleased they're hosting me here," she said of SAAC.
This evening, SAAC will recognize her with an artist's reception from 6 to 7 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. Visitors will have the opportunity to see her work, along with that of Kaci Merrell, whose exhibit "Eccentric Treasures" is on display in the Lobby Gallery.
"I really hope that regardless of their experience with art, they find something to connect to," Robertson said. "Come and see it!"
Read more about SAAC's renovations in tomorrow's edition of the News-Times.
Tamara Robertson's "Pixie," a series of works featuring magazine pages, is seen at the South Arkansas Arts Center as part of her exhibit, "Piece by Peace." (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)
A close up of Tamara Robertson's work "Gary's First Lesson on Life and Death" is seen. The full piece can be seen in her exhibit at the South Arkansas Arts Center. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)
Tamara Robertson stands with her sculpture "Cosmic Cactus" at the South Arkansas Arts Center on Thursday afternoon. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)