Fractal | Leila Atkinson

Presented by the Patchogue Arts Council, now on view at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts is Fractal, a solo exhibition featuring the artwork of Leila Atkinson. The artwork is taken from the Atkinson’s Trees series, which consists of tree renderings in black silhouettes painted against a white background. The artist has a deep fascination with trees, their network of branches as well as the contrast and movement these branches create with their surrounding spaces. For the artist, trees inspire a sense of interconnectedness between men. As one tree is a part of a whole forest, we are all part of a whole.

Atkinson’s artwork focuses on the formal elements of art; namely line, form, shape, and color. One piece representative of the work on display is Path. The black and white, India ink on watercolor board, piece resembles a tree in the middle of autumn. The leaves have long since left its branches and it stands in a dark silhouette against the light background. Path inspires the notion of hiking in a nature preserve on a crisp, fall day. Mimicking the experience of walking in the woods on an overcast day, the image recalls the moment when you look up at the sky and see the branches splitter and zigzag against the sky. Like the rest of the images on exhibit, Path encourages you, the viewer, to reconnect with, and experiences the healing powers of, nature.

Leila Atkinson is a fine artist from Patchogue, NY. She received her MA in Studio Art from Adelphi University in 1997. She also studied at the E.F.E.T. in Paris, France and at C.W. Post in Brookville, NY. Her artwork has been exhibited throughout Long Island and New York City with select exhibitions at the Patchogue Arts Gallery, Phoenix Gallery, and A.I.R. Gallery.

The Patchogue Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation founded in 2008 to promote, encourage, and support the arts on the greater south shore of the Town of Brookhaven. The Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts is a multi-purpose venue, which offers a variety of events including live performances, films, educational presentations, commercial productions, community forums, and more.

Fractal | Leila Atkinson is on display at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts from September 3 – October 29, 2017.