- April 25, 2024
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Ormond Beach artist Kristin Heron had her first solo show Sept. 3 (Photos by Emily Blackwood).
Heron's show, "The Sound of Water," featured pieces of her own little wild Florida dreamworld.
When people think of Florida, they might conjure up images of crowded beaches, intense humidity and theme park lines — but Ormond Beach artist Kristin Heron sees things a little differently.
A horse carrying a sea shell on its back and stopping for a drink in a small pool of water. An innocent looking alligator curled up with a tiny red heart by its side. A bunny hopping over an underwater beehive while the moon changes phases right above its head.
Those characters and their stories were just a few snippets of Heron's imagination that are on display for her first solo show, "The Sound of Water."
Held at The Hub on Canal, 132 Canal St., New Smyrna Beach, the show runs through Sept. 26, and according to her artist statement, features a collection of work that is "an allegory for the transformation of sorrow into grace; illustrating truth and healing through the use of gentle imagery."
"The depths, rhythms, reflections and transformative qualities of water fascinate me, symbolizing life source and change, in my artwork," the statement reads. "By dropping and pouring water into wet paint on canvas, I create fluid background forms and spontaneous textures that set the stage and narrative. I then sketch, paint, and collage images onto these dreamy landscapes. My hope is to enchant the viewer with an approachable and sincere style of painting, breathing magic into everyday experience."
Heron returned to her hometown of Ormond Beach after earning a bachelor of arts degree in studio art and music from Rollins College. She currently works as the education and outreah curator for the Ormond Memorial Art Museum, and draws a lot of her inspiration from the scenery that surrounds her historic Ormond Beach treehouse.
All of her pieces are full of symbolism, and during her artist talk at the "Sound of Water," opening Sept. 3, she explained some of meaning behind her paintings, like the horse drinking from a pool in "The Journey."
"Horses represent strength," Heron said. "They're wild and free. She's been on this long journey, and she's finally arrived at this pool. The painting could actually ask the question, 'What are we thirsty for?' and 'What are we seeking on this journey?' It's something different for each of us, and maybe she's telling us to go after it with strength."
Visit kristinherondesigns.com for more information about the artist.
