"Double Identity: Artist as Teacher - Teacher as Artist”
Laurel Mehrer
September 7 through September 30, 2007

“Double Identity: Artist as Teacher - Teacher as Artist” featured works by artist Laurel Mehrer, an art teacher from Roncalli High School. She writes, “As I prepared for this show, it seems a major theme is “double identities” or differences that must coexist: teacher or artist, junk or art, old or new, form or function, imagination or truth, serious or fun. Art, as a human expression, captures every aspect of the mind and heart.”

The show included many ceramic and hand-built clay pieces, several of which have double meanings. Some are functional as well as art objects such as the mask that is also a musical instrument and the white ceramic hen that doubles as a teapot.

The show included watercolor and acrylic paintings which experimented with different painting techniques like wet-into-wet and salt textures and spattering as a mixing method. Various pieces are collaged using digital photography and direct drawing or painting or objects like greeting cards to convey the theme. Probably some of Mehrer’s most unique pieces exhibited were her batiks, an ancient dying method of designing cloth for which she has a real affinity. “Horse Play” is a large batik 45 inches long which pictures five horse figures frolicking. The true colors and variety of textures create an outstanding piece.

“This show is a retrospective of experimental pieces before teaching, demonstrations done while teaching, and my own responses to assignments I have given art students,” says Mehrer.

Laurel was born and raised in Tioga, North Dakota and graduated with her art education BS from Minot State University. She had the reputation of an “artist” as a young child and knew she wanted to be an art teacher by the age of 15. She has shown her work in several area galleries as well as the Dacotah Prairie Museum, most recently in 1997. North Dakota “Art On The Road” featured her work entitled “The Gardener” on ten billboards across the State. The mother of three grown children, Laurel lives near Claremont on acreage allowing her to keep her three horses and two dogs who are a big part of keeping her close to the prairie that she loves.

For information on past exhibits in the Dacotah Gallery, please click here.