11/10/18

AMES, Iowa — An exhibition of digital drawings and hybrid digital drawing/photographic collages by Ames artist Matthew Merritt is on display Nov. 11 through Dec. 2 at the Iowa State University Design on Main Gallery, 203 Main St. in downtown Ames.

“01100100 01110010 01100001 01110111 01101110” features 20 framed artworks, 12 tote bags and even a rug printed with original imagery by Merritt, all drawn by hand or drawn and collaged with photography using a finger, a stylus or a conventional mouse on a 23-inch touchscreen computer. In his artist’s statement, Merritt says he draws multiple “templates” that he then brings together to “carve out” a picture.

“I love abstraction because it gives you a chance to see something unreal,” he says. “Getting lost inside your own imagination is the best feeling, and I hope that is the experience you have as you wander past the pieces.”

A public reception with the artist will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30. Refreshments will be served. Both the exhibition and the reception are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday, closed Monday and Tuesday.

Merritt holds an associate of science degree in broadcast technology and has exhibited his work locally at Café Diem and the Octagon Center for the Arts in Ames and Firetrucker Brewery in Ankeny. Find his work on Facebook

Contacts

Matthew Merritt, Artist, m.e.merritt1@gmail.com
Catherine Reinhart, Design on Main Gallery, designonmain@iastate.edu
Heather Sauer, Design Communications, (515) 294-9289, hsauer@iastate.edu

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