COLUSA, CA (MPG) – The rice fields, irrigation canals and grain silos that form a familiar backdrop across the Sacramento Valley take center stage in a new exhibition at the Colusa County Arts Council Gallery.
Northern California artist Ema Lahey opened “RICELAND & beyond,” her first solo exhibition, during a reception Sept. 5 at the downtown Colusa gallery.
The exhibition features paintings and collage works inspired by the agricultural landscapes of Colusa and Glenn counties. Lahey based the collection on approximately 700 photographs she took during visits to the two counties.
Rather than treating the region’s rice fields, irrigation canals, grain silos and rice dryers simply as parts of the working landscape, Lahey uses them as subjects in their own right. The resulting works focus attention on structures and scenes that people traveling through the Sacramento Valley may see every day.
The collection also reflects Lahey’s personal return to the region’s agricultural landscape. Her photographs provided the foundation for works that explore the shapes, colors and scale of rice country, including its agricultural buildings and open skies.
The Colusa County Arts Council said the exhibition encourages viewers to look again at familiar surroundings and consider the history and industry represented in the landscape.
Community members and visitors gathered at the gallery for the Sept. 5 opening reception, which marked the beginning of the exhibition’s three-month run.
“RICELAND & beyond” will remain on display through Dec. 10 at the Colusa County Arts Council Gallery, 151 Fifth St., Colusa. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.
More information is available at http://colusa-arts.org.