Nationally known for the unexpected and dramatic ways in which she fuses art and language, New York-based Dill explores the relationships between language and transformational experience through multi-faceted work that appeals to a wide range of interests.

“Poetic Visions invites audiences to delve into art, literature, spirituality, feminism—even fashion,” says curator Barbara Matilsky, of the Whatcom Museum in Bellingham, WA, who worked closely with Dill to mount this traveling exhibition. The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art rarely hosts traveling exhibitions; preferring instead to originate its own exhibitions and educational programs.  An exception was made for this show, however, according to Halsey director Mark Sloan: “Dill’s work has always been fascinating to me in its combination of word and image”. “When I learned my colleague Barbara Matilsky was organizing an exhibition of Dill’s recent works, I jumped at the chance to participate in the tour.”

Describing language as “the touchstone, the pivot point of all my work,” Lesley Dill reveals the potential of words to stir feelings and convey hidden meanings, explains Matilsky. “Her synthesis of a lyric vocabulary into bronze, foil, wire, paper, fabric, and horsehair informs an innovative style that radiates visual eloquence.” Unified by their layers of words, figures, and symbolic imagery, the artworks in Poetic Visions underline Dill’s desire to render transcendental experience into form. Her work represents “a symphony of spiritual traditions,” in which New Orleans street preacher/visual artist Sister Gertrude Morgan is just one of the players, says Matilsky. Dill was drawn to this famous folk artist, who also merged text and image in her work, because of her strength and conviction of belief.

Lesley Dill’s Poetic Visions has been organized by the Whatcom Museum, which is supported by the City of Bellingham and the Whatcom Museum Foundation. Shimmer and Allegorical Figures courtesy of the George Adams Gallery. Sister Gertrude Morgan courtesy of the Arthur Roger Gallery.