Silo gallery was the first purpose-built gallery in Texas. It is a collection of 3D artworks and art forms created by 12 talented artists. Ralph Petley and Jean Petley created the Silo in 1985. Chester John & Elissa purchased the Silo Gallery in 2004. The Silo was purchased by Chester John and Elissa Beach in 2004. This is a gallery that many people don’t know about and aren’t interested in. After researching hundreds of different galleries and exhibits, this was the one I found most intriguing. Silo is located about 20 minutes drive from my house. I asked a close friend if she’d like to go to an exhibition with me. She agreed enthusiastically. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I had never visited an art gallery in my spare time.
After parking my car, I entered the building. As I walked there, the waterfall that flowed into the koi-pond with lilypads was the first thing that caught my eye. When I first walk into the room and scan it, I am immediately interested. The Koi-Tranquility, a piece of Bobbie McCrea’s North Shore Poetry on the rear wall is the first thing I notice. The artist hung three separate connected pieces next to one another, making sure they flowed well together. The painting featured a brightly colored ocean with several fish that looked similar. I was immediately able to see the differences as I got closer. Some were orange, blue and red. Some were smaller and others larger. As I studied the image, I became more aware of every detail. The seaweeds were dull and the lilypads were lily-white. There was also a brownish bottom to the ocean. It was written underneath a description about the process. Clay is used to make shards. The shard comes with a metal loop on its back that allows it to hang from a ceiling. The first firing of the “bisque” takes two to four weeks. Bisque is the firing of ceramics before they can be glazed. Artists can use bisque just like they do canvas. Artists will free-hand their work using a pencil, then paint with glaze. The process is made longer by the fact that each glaze requires 3 to 4 layers. Raku fire is used after the shards are completely dried. Raku was invented by the Japanese in Kyoto during the 16th centuries. It was fascinating to learn the process behind this piece. I would have assumed that this was just a painted piece and never known the tedious process involved in creating it.
While walking, I come across another interesting work of art. A light blue plate had a large, almost entire fish in its middle. The glass is clear and blue, so it is obvious that the fish is swimming. The artist incorporated important details into the piece, like the bubbles that came out of fish’s mouths to represent the ocean as glass. I love that Elissa beach also used her lastname in the piece. As I explored further, I saw that they had sculpted their art onto jewelry. There were necklaces, rings and bracelets. Art is everywhere, and everyone views it differently. Everywhere we look, there is art. But we tend to ignore it. By taking the time and effort to enjoy more art, perhaps we can learn more of ourselves. I’ve visited many museums and art exhibits but never listened. Writing an essay on the art gallery changed my perspective and I now see all pieces differently. We may not realize it, but all art has a deeper meaning. If you buy from a local artist, you are buying more than a simple piece. It’s very impressive to see how much time, effort and dedication someone has put into their creations. When I first went to the art gallery I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. But after I left, I saw something that I hadn’t noticed before. You can make art out of anything. A picture frame, small dishes, trees, handkerchiefs, etc. We use these items every day. The idea that only someone’s hands can create art, and not their thoughts, is inspiring. Even though the artwork may be the exact same, I might be able discover something new.