"Above the Waters" by Brit J. Øie

“Toward Light,” a mixed media exhibition of recent works by Weaverville artist Brit J. Øie, will be on view October 3-27 at UNC Asheville’s Highsmith University Union Gallery. Some 12 paintings will be exhibited, which feature richly textured surfaces created through collages of embossed paper combined with acrylic paint. A reception will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, in the gallery.

Øie, a native of Norway, holds a bachelor’s of fine arts degree from UNC Asheville and has also studied weaving in Norway. She has exhibited widely across Western North Carolina and has received numerous prizes at local juried exhibitions.

She has found similarities in the art forms of both Norway and Western North Carolina. “I grew up in Norway among people who were always busy creating with their hands,” Øie said. “Knitting, weaving and woodworking were an integral part of both my parents’ and grandparents’ lives. The number of years
I have lived in Western North Carolina and Norway are about equal now, and my heart is connected to both. For me, the bridging of these two cultures is found in shared important values: a deep connection to the land and an appreciation of hand crafts.”

The Highsmith University Union Gallery is open from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays but hours are subject to change. For more information, call UNC Asheville’s Highsmith University Union at 828/232-5000.