Image from "The Eyes Have It"

"The Eyes Have It: The Reciprocating Gaze," featuring eight paintings and mixed media pieces by UNC Asheville senior Caitlin Rawlins, will be on view April 24-May 5 at UNC Asheville's Highsmith University Union Gallery. An opening reception will be held 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 24, in the gallery. The show is a culmination of Rawlins' work towards a bachelor of arts degree from UNC Asheville. The exhibition and opening reception are free and open to the public.

Rawlins's work, influenced by Surrealist and Modern concepts, takes apart the objects of the everyday world and combines the pieces with the imagination to form new juxtapositions and multi-level symbolism. "Spurring partially from an interest in Surrealist painting, the human eye was chosen as my primary subject matter," Rawlins said. "In my painting constructions, the eye becomes the object as an entity on its own and a symbol for the artist, viewer, the reflection and the reciprocating gaze."

The gallery is located on the lower level of UNC Asheville's Highsmith University Union. The gallery is open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and noon-6 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call UNC Asheville's Art Department at 828/251-6559.