Artist Jan Arthur Harrell's exhibit, “Offerings-Gifts for the Muse,” will be on display November 4-22 at LSC-Montgomery. Pieces such as this one, "Tiffany Box and Trophy Wife Ring," showcase the series' unconventional, yet decidedly feminine design and palate.

Lone Star College-Montgomery is excited to host artist Jan Arthur Harrell and her exhibit “Offerings-Gifts for the Muse,” on display November 4-22 in the Mary Matteson-Parrish Art Gallery, located in the Performing Arts Center (Building D).
 
The opening reception with the artist is on Tuesday, November 5, at 12 p.m., in the same location. Harrell will discus her pieces and answer questions. The public is invited, and food and refreshments will be served.
 
“Offerings-Gifts for the Muse” is the third grouping of “The Muse Series,” which contains a collection of enameled objects “for the environment of a larger-than-life persona—a muse.”
 
“For the last six years, my work has been about this muse, this woman, this bigger-than life person,” said Harrell.” I’ve been told by many people that I tend to break into their space physically, so I think I wanted to do that with my artwork.”
 
According to Harrell, "The Muse Series” is an amalgamation of found objects and fabrications that produce an unconventional, yet decidedly feminine design and palate. The expanded scale and the rusted patinas are a foil against the delicacy and lushness of the enamel surfaces. This particular exhibit is a collection of oversized gifts particular to a muse’s feminine and robust tastes. A thorny rose bouquet, a string of fabricated pearls, and a huge, metal-caged cupcake are offerings to her many lusty appetites.
 
“I decided that if I was going to make artwork, I would either repel people, or they would join me and think how fun this work was,” said Harrell. “This bawdy and joyful goddess embraces life to its fullest—and grabs a bit more when she gets the chance.”
 
Harrell said the idea came about from a hot yoga class.
 

Artist Jan Arthur Harrell will answer questions on her exhibit, "Offerings-Gifts for the Muse," during a reception November 5, at 12 p.m., at LSC-Montgomery. Her work, such as this one, "Cupcake and Keeper," will be on display in the college's art gallery November 4-22.

“As an artist, when you finish a body of work, you always hope that some new idea will come to you, but you’re not really certain it will,” Harrell explained. “I was lying there in a pool of sweat, and [the yoga instructor] said, ‘Be sure to have your palms facing the sky, because the gifts from the universe come wrapped in many different packages.’ It was like ‘Boing!’ From that, I ended up with these 14 different gifts.”
 
Harrell, who spent the first eight years of her life in Japan, is an enamelist, a metalsmith, and a sculptor. Her mother, a painter, encouraged her to be an artist; however, her high school art teacher showed her basic jewelry techniques and enameling.
 
Since then, Harrell has showcased her work all around the country. She’s received many awards and recognitions and has been widely published. Currently, she is the enamel instructor at Glassell School of Art in Houston, a position she’s held for 20 years.
 
The Mary Matteson-Parrish Art Gallery is open Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
For more information about this exhibit, contact Fong Chau, program coordinator for theatre/fine arts at LSC-Montgomery, at (936) 273-7021 or Fong.T.Chau@LoneStar.edu or visit www.LoneStar.edu/arts-montgomery.
 
LSC-Montgomery is located at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call 936.273.7000, or visit www.LoneStar.edu/montgomery.
 
Lone Star College System has been opening doors to a better community for 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSCS remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion. Today, with 78,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and the fastest-growing community college system in the nation. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, five centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.