New DVAA Exhibitions Find Interplay Between Art and Nature Through Complementary Lenses

Two solo exhibitions are opening April 5 at The Delaware Valley Arts Alliance (DVAA) celebrate art and nature: “Open Spaces” by Jenny Carpenter and “When We Are Among the Trees” by Kelly O’Brien.

Working with the natural grain of birch panels, Carpenter’s paintings evolve in a dance between control and chance. Her process begins with the unique surface of each birch panel, whose grain guides her mark-making and shapes the final image

Inspired by the poetry of Mary Oliver, O’Brien’s work is rooted in her ongoing exploration of care, repair, and our relationship to the natural world, inviting viewers to reflect on their place within a fragile ecosystem.

Image: Jenny Carpenter’s “Open Spaces” (top) and Kelly O’Brien’s “When We Are Among The Trees.” (Credit: DVAA)