At the wide-eyed age of 23, Bethlehem artist Devyn Briggs’ deft traversal of mediums is already producing an impressive body of work. In her hands, textiles, paints and ceramics convey a deep enjoyment and awe of community, creation and the Creator. Her shape shifting-talent and her inexhaustible fervor for art marks her as a maker to watch.
Her compact studio at the Banana Factory is a feast of polychromatic pleasures, filled with a variety of friendly forms. Some of the multi cultural currents flowing through her paintings invoke the mighty aerial perspectives of Aboriginal art. Others poignantly capture moments among friends, family and communities playing, praying and communing within the rich rituals of daily life. Throughout a wide range of images, Briggs manages to infuse each piece with the joyous and peaceful illuminations of her soul.
Some of her singular ceramics are curiously adorned with beads. Bristling with tactile appeal, these vessels are metaphors for the human condition. Briggs explains, “They are made of earth, organic in form, full of imperfections and often broken; underneath the beaded section are cutouts or pieces that have broken away,” she says.
Creating exotic jewelry with an unusual contemporary twist is an exciting new direction for Briggs. “I’ve taken my fascination with beads into a more wearable format, teaching myself to construct pieces that are pretty and fashionable while still being unique works of art,” she says. “I incorporate a lot of the same qualities that I do into my weavings and paintings, creating interesting color and texture relationships while still referencing traditional jewelry designs from around the world.”
Mark your calendars: Devyn Briggs’ inaugural solo exhibit will be held at Lafayette College’s EPI/Riley Temple Gallery at the Portlock Center from May 8 through August 20, 2015. An artist reception will be held May 14 from 4 to 6 p.m.
Banana Factory | 25 W. 3rd St., Bethlehem #254 | devynleonorbriggs.com
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