Maria Bordelon-Nelson Carved and Woven Souls Opening Reception: Friday, July 14, 2017, 6-8PM Exhibition July 14 – August 12, 2017 Samara Gallery is pleased to present Carved and Woven Souls, a solo exhibition of works by Maria Bordelon-Nelson. This body of work follows her recent appearance in Lawndale’s 2016 Big Show and her debut solo exhibition, Folded Forms, shown at Houston Baptist University. Her sculptural work accomplishes the harmony of five elements of design within each delicate piece: comparison of adjacencies, surface affinity, dominance, textural finishes, and color. The artist describes her work stating, “Cage wire, softwoods, and wood veneers are my materials of choice to make sculpture. My works are unassuming, standing forms and wall hung sculpture. The use of simple forms and simple shapes are at the beginning of creativity for me. Relationships are a routine part of daily life and my work reflects upon the concepts of both connected-ness and contrasts in routine relationships. The visual comparison of parts to the whole, point up both polar and bi-polar magnetic qualities.” Maria Bordelon-Nelson was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and received a summa cum laude BFA in 1973. Her interest in fine art and design brought her to Houston to establish an interior design practice, Bordelon Design Associates, which continues today. She received an MLA in art history from the University of St. Thomas in 2005 and holds a completion certificate from the Glassell School of the Museum of Fine Art, Houston.