FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Marylandian -- The Visual and Performing Arts Center at Fenix (VPAC) located at 16 W. Center Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas, begins its 2021 exhibition year with SHELTER, an exhibition by artists Byron Keith Byrd and Stefani Byrd.

SHELTER explores themes related to home, protection, safety, and seeking refuge from the unknown. One of the most basic human needs according to psychologist Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is shelter and a sense of safety. This foundation is what all other levels of human development are built upon, including our highest achievements such as self-actualization and creative expression. Works featured relate to these themes in a broad variety of ways, some more literally and others metaphorically in how safety, or a lack thereof, influences our creative practice and how we understand the self.

The main gallery will feature large scale abstract expressionist paintings by New York artist Byron Keith Byrd made during quarantine while in the Northwest Arkansas region. Byrd's work titled Plum Ripe (oil on canvas, 60x60 inch), was accepted into Hammond Museum and will be featured on their website until December December 2021(https://www.hammondmuseum.org/january-virtual-exhibition). Byrd is one of 28 international artists selected by curator Bibiana Huang Matheis.

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The rear gallery will feature Stefani Byrd's installation, made with LIDAR scanning technology, that explores how the pandemic and quarantining has changed our collective relationship to domestic spaces. Byrd is a visiting assistant professor for experimental media arts with the University of Arkansas School of Art. The additional gallery spaces will feature work by Fenix Gallery members responding to the themes of SHELTER, such as the COVID pandemic, experiences of isolation, political polarization, the outcry for social justice, and notions of home and safety.

SHELTER will run January 20—February 24, 2021. The exhibition is free and open to the public Wednesday—Friday,11 a.m.—2 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m.—1 p.m. Per Arkansas Department of Health Covid-19 safety guidelines, visitors are required to wear face coverings and practice social distancing when visiting the gallery.

The Visual and Performing Arts Center at Fenix is an artist collective committed to serving a diverse and inclusive artist community. VPAC seeks to advance arts education by focusing on mentorships for established and emerging artists and providing support and educational opportunities while promoting excellence in visual and performing arts in Northwest Arkansas.

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ABOUT THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AT FENIX GALLERY: https://www.fenixfayettevilleart.com

ABOUT BYRON KEITH BYRD: https://byronkeithbyrd.com ABOUT STEFANI BYRD: http://www.stefanibyrd.com

ABOUT THE HAMMOND MUSEUM & JAPANESE STROLL GARDEN: https://www.hammondmuseum.org