‘Winter Year’ opens

Bloomington artist Sally Jane Harless will be exhibiting new work at Boxcar Books beginning with an opening reception at 7 p.m. Friday.  

Harless is a watercolorist and illustrator who graduated from IU in 2007 with a Master of Fine Arts in printmaking and has exhibited throughout Indiana. Her latest show, “The Winter Year,” incorporates melancholic animals – a common motif in Harless’ work – into somber settings through the use of calm or muted colors.

“The visual theme is winter and arctic animals,” Harless said. “My usual themes deal with solitude, fear, depression and longing. Winter is cold and cumbersome, and I use these ideas as metaphors in my pieces.”

Harless’ watercolor use and illustration style are not strictly sad or dreary but reminiscent of what the artist calls “an attempt to fuse images reminiscent of children’s books with the struggles of adjusting to adulthood.”  Her pieces are both relatable in context and visually appealing, often with a sense of cynical humor – totally accessible for any college student, art lover or not.

“The Winter Year” will be displayed from 7 to 9 p.m. at Boxcar Books, located at 408 E. Sixth St. Harless’ pieces will be on display through March 3, and all are available for sale.  You can also check out her Web site at www.sadlyharmless.com or shop her online store at www.sadlyharmless.etsy.com.  Search “The Winter Year” on Facebook to RSVP to the event.

“I think it’s really great that Boxcar opens up its space to visual artists,” said Harless. “It is a unique setting that allows artists to reach an audience that might not
necessarily go to galleries. Art doesn’t just belong in galleries, it belongs everywhere.”