Staff Reports
‘”Martians, Cows and Mystical Creatures” has arrived at Southern Indiana Center for the Arts.
This month’s gallery show by Silas Cheo will open with a reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the center, 2001 N. Ewing St., Seymour.
The subjects of Cheo’s most recent paintings performing everyday tasks allow the viewer to relate to the subject and find humor in the motif, whether it is a cow, a pig or even an alien species.
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“I always loved to draw and paint, but it was after my first time painting cows on a farm in Frederick, Maryland, that I became serious about art and painting as a career,” Cheo said.
Cheo’s work primarily involves paintings and drawings depicting animals and other worldly creatures. The work spans from ink and pastel drawings to paintings in acrylic and oil.
In addition to the exhibit, Cheo will teach a workshop Saturday and Sunday at a Jackson County dairy farm. The workshop will start at 11 a.m. each day with Cheo doing an introduction and demonstration. Participants will then break off and paint with Cheo making rounds to answer questions and give pointers.
The day will conclude with a showcase and discussion of that day’s work.
There are three package options available for the workshop. To attend and bring your own supplies is $100, to attend and have paint and brushes provided is $225 and to attend with all needed materials provided is $275.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, participants will be asked to practice social distancing and wear masks when social distancing is not possible. Participants are encouraged to bring their own food and drinks.
“Silas is a great artist, and I am very happy he is here to show his work and knowledge with SICA and our community,” said Speck Mellencamp, executive director of SICA.
Cheo said cows are a main subject matter, as he took his love of painting them from his days growing up in Maryland into his years at college at the Rhode Island School of Design.
Growing up, he learned the basics of oil painting taking classes at The Yellow Barn Studio and plein-air workshops painting the landscape.
Cheo is an artist residing in Baltimore, Maryland, and a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design.
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For information about the exhibit and the workshop, visit soinart.com, call or text 812-522-2278 or email [email protected].
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