Ballard - Martz and Cox Holly Ballard Martz and Valaree Cox - New Paintings Holly Ballard Martz October 8, 2008 - November 9, 2008 6:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m.         The Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery is pleased to offer new paintings by two northwest artists. Holly Ballard Martz of Bremerton paints thoughtful and lyrical images with messages in collage and iconography. These new images revolve around redundant figures juxtaposed to each other in interesting and thoughtful placement. At first glance you are haunted by the target symbolism, but lead quickly to being at ease as Martz allows the target to be more than an a paper object for an accurate shot. Martz has become a gallery favorite since her first exhibit in 2003. Valaree Cox after 12 years of working in metal as a jeweler and several more doing assemblage art, has now turned to painting.  "It is fulfilling for me to land in a place where I can combine those mediums on a 2-dimensional surface." "I love the process of building up on a surface starting with plaster, then paint and paper and using found objects to make my art.  It makes for an interesting look, feel and the question, why is she using an old fishing lure in a painting?"   Every single element in one of her paintings has a very specific significance to her.  "I love the viewer to find there own meaning or just an emotional feeling from each piece of artwork.  One they can love to look at over and over again." The work this year by Cox is all about 'Transition'.  Transition is a part of life that happens constantly, yet for many of us it is still something that is hard to adjust to. "The past year has been full of change for my family and me.  There were big shifts on many fronts that have profoundly affected the rest of my life and the best way I express my feelings about it is through my art. Each piece in this exhibit relates to a person or an event that has been part of that change, from a parent with physical issues to one with mental ones.  I used my own photographs taken over the years on each piece.  That was a satisfying media to combine with other elements that I like to use in the 'collage' and painting method I use in my mixed media work. The art was a transition for me and so it goes on and on…"          Holly Ballard Martz Figurehead 30 x 24 Inches  Acrylic on Canvas $ 1900 US Holly Ballard Martz Turning a Blind Eye 36 x 24 Inches  Acrylic on Canvas $ 2200 US Holly Ballard Martz Patron saint of lost souls 30 x 24 Inches  Acrylic on Canvas $ 1900 US Holly Ballard Martz Pales in Comparison 20 x 60 Inches  Mixed Media on Canvas $ 2700 US Holly Ballard Martz Lofty Ideals 40 x 30 Inches  Mixed Media on Canvas $ 2700 US Holly Ballard Martz When all the signs are there 36 x 24 Inches  Mixed Media on Canvas $ 2100 US Holly Ballard Martz Opposing Forces 48 x 24 Inches  Mixed Media on Canvas $ 2600 US Holly Ballard Martz Time Constraints 30 x 24 Inches  Mixed Media on Canvas $ 1900 US Holly Ballard Martz This End Up 48 x 24 Inches  Mixed Media on Canvas $ 2600 US Holly Ballard Martz Untitled 24 x 18 Inches  Mixed Media on Canvas $ 1300 US Holly Ballard Martz What Goes Around Comes Around 48 x 48 Inches  Mixed Media on Canvas $ 4800 US Holly Ballard Martz The Intersection of X and Y 36 x 36 Inches  Acrylic on Canvas $ 3000 US Holly Ballard Martz Sustainable 60 x 48 Inches  Acrylic on Canvas $ 5500 US Notice: All artwork is the copyright of the respective artists and may not be reproduced without their written permission. Contact Information: Please call us at 425.283.0461 or, Email us at BuyArt@gunnarnordstrom.com  Gallery Staff: Gunnar Nordstrom - Director