An exciting collection of new paintings, Tesserae, by Leslie J. Dulin, will be featured at In-Town Gallery, 26A Frazier Avenue in Chattanooga, October 1-30. An opening reception will be held on the First Friday, October 2, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.

Tesserae (tiles) are the pieces that make up a mosaic. The idea for the paintings came from the paper that Dulin hand-printed during the past three years for use in collages. Many pieces of the paper had the look of tiles.

“I thought about tiles being pieces and the idea of ‘falling to pieces’. I combined my fascination with Byzantine mosaics and the idea of a fallen oriental empire in collages composed from my tiled and printed papers, using subject matter suggested by Byzantine history and art to convey impressions of a foreign place that exists mainly in memory, lost in time,” explained Dulin. “The colors of imperial purple, gold and lapis blue from period textiles and glass, as well as the earth colors used in ceramics were employed to recall a rich, exotic time and place.”

The papers that Dulin used in the collages were printed using hand-carved rubber stamps that she designed using Byzantine ornament and textiles as inspiration. She also incorporated stenciled images and monoprints into the paintings. The paintings themselves are also tesserae. With sizes based on a 12 inch square, they fit together on the wall like parts of a larger mosaic, although each has its own subject. All of the paintings are collage with acrylic on canvas.

Dulin, a Signal Mountain native, has a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Georgia. She has pursued a full-time fine art career for 10 years. She is a signature member of the Tennessee Watercolor Society, and her work is included in many public and private collections.

In-Town Gallery features a different member-artist each month. It is the only gallery in Chattanooga that exhibits original artwork by totally regional artists. Founded in 1974, it is considered one of the oldest artists’ cooperatives in the country. It offers the convenience of being open seven days a week - 11am-6pm Monday - Saturday, 1-5pm, Sunday, and until 8pm most First Fridays. In-Town Gallery is located on the North Shore at 26A Frazier Avenue, between the Market Street and Walnut Street bridges, adjacent to Coolidge Park. Call 423-267-9214 for information, or visit the website: www.intowngallery.com.