The Shafer Gallery will host an opening reception for its “All of the Above” exhibit from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23 in the Gallery and will feature light refreshments and a talk by artist Rachel Curtis.

Shafer Gallery Director Alyssa Bliven said Curtis is a dedicated art faculty member at Butler Community College.

“In addition to her role as an educator, she is a prolific and enthusiastic painter, focusing on human relationships and their intricacies through the use of light, color, and pattern,” she said. “Her paintings often depict domestic moments involving family and friends, highlighting the evolution of these relationships. Curtis sees her art as a way to ‘tell the story of the evolution of the family.’”

Bliven said Art critic Ksenya Gurshtein praised Curtis as someone willing to acknowledge and explore the complexity and messiness of family systems.

“Gurshtein said that Curtis is an artist who understands that painting a portrait can mimic family dynamics, serving as both an assertion of power and an expression of love,” she said. “Most importantly, Curtis’ paintings open up many paths for viewers to consider how their closest relationships create a constant push and pull.”

The exhibit will run through Sept. 14. The Shafer Gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is always free. For more information, contact Bliven at shafergallery@bartonccc.eduor 620-792-9342.