Maiden Voyage: Enchanted Brush Exhibition Displays Mythical Madams

Enchanted Brush, one of the most intriguing University of Findlay annual fine art exhibitions, has returned! Featuring the theme “Maidens of Myth,” the event will run through Aug. 10 in the Dudley and Mary Marks Lea Gallery within the Virginia B. Gardner Fine Arts Pavilion.
A free, public reception will be held Wednesday, July 18 at 5:30 p.m. in the Mazza Museum. Giving a presentation will be Ed Binkley, whose work has appeared on dozens of book covers and magazines, and in numerous issues of “Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art.” A 6 p.m. gallery tour of the exhibition will be led by Daniel Chudzinski, Museum curator and exhibition organizer.
Now enjoying its fourth installment, the Enchanted Brush Exhibition is an event that showcases works by some of the most acclaimed artists in the industry. Their creations are specifically tailored to each year’s Chudzinski-conceived theme, and are collectively displayed this one time.
“Freed from the restrictions of art directors, publishers, and scripts, the artists responded with a collection of some of the most memorable maidens one could hope to encounter, Chudzinski said. The exhibition “captures the charisma of some of the greatest characters to ever grace the painted page,” he emphasized.
Chudzinski’s exhibition statement is as characteristically literary as it is inspiring: “Deep within the fabled realms of lore, there exists a host of characters that embody the essence of literature’s most beloved tales. Their presence transcends written words, lingering long after their stories have faded from the page. They are the bringers of wonder, serving as unforgettable guides to the depths of our imaginations,” he writes. “From fairy godmothers and unlikely heroines to warrior queens and supreme goddesses, these fearless females have defied our expectations, challenged our perceptions, and captured our hearts.”
The Lea Gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, and from 1-4 p.m. Sundays. All exhibitions are free and open to the public.