Something magical is in the air this Friday at Chefas Projects as we welcome Portland born artist Laura Burke for her first solo exhibit with the gallery. Bright Blue His Jacket Is, and His Boots are Yellow reflects Burke's striking visual language with a new collection of canvas paintings and works on paper.  

“My intention with this body of work is to capture scenes that feel like fairytales. Each painting and drawing portrays a moment instilled with subtle (or not so subtle) magic. They’re household objects and bits of nature that I’ve arranged despite the laws of perspective to invoke another world. The title of the show is a quote from Tom Bombadil in The Fellowship of the Ring. He’s approaching his cabin in the woods, while the hobbits sit in his living room. They can hear him singing as he walks through the forest, and this is one of the lines they can make out between derry dol and merry dol. This brief and mystical character isn’t quite human, but can’t be described as anything else. I wanted the same vague familiarity in my pieces- nothing overtly magical is taking place, but they aren’t at home in this reality either. This quote not only speaks to my chosen pallet, but the levity and magic I fostered in each piece. A blue jacket and yellow boots aren't inherently magical, but they can be.” - Laura Burke

WEDNESDAY to SATURDAY 12-6pm