Submitted
Riley Sims, a proud alumna of both Fishers High School and Ball State University, will present her thesis art exhibition, “A Single Tick,” through May 5 at the Ned and Gloria Griner Gallery on Ball State’s campus.
The reception for the exhibition will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, May 5.
Sims is a recent graduate of Ball State with a Bachelor of Arts in Painting. Her expressive yet controlled works explore the interplay between organic and geometric shapes using acrylic paint. Her paintings have been featured in group exhibitions including The Art of Emerging Artist at the Hamilton County Community Foundation, Fishers Arts Council in Fishers, the 88th annual Juried Student Art Show, and her thesis exhibition, “A Single Tick,” at the Griner Gallery.
Sims’ exceptional talent and dedication to her craft were recognized with the Outstanding Senior Art Student in Painting Award from the School of Art at Ball State. With her focus on exploring the tension between organic and geometric shapes, she is poised to become a rising star in the art world.
“Riley is an enthusiastic artist and an inspired leader,” said Audrey Barcio, assistant professor in the School of Art. “They mobilize materials and methods in unique ways that bring awareness and social action in conversation with abstraction. The work brings into focus the human struggle to balance chaos and control. Riley’s methodology is complex and layered, blending disparate techniques such as staining and hard-edge geometry, but the finished work is clear and concise. That’s a difficult thing for any artist to accomplish.”
The exhibition will feature a collection of seven acrylic paintings on canvas that explore Sims’ ongoing journey with Lyme disease. Using expressive organic spills contrasting bold geometric elements, she creates a connection with her audience, encouraging them to take action towards funding research for Lyme disease. This exhibition also includes seven other thesis exhibitions from her classmates, including Erica O’Connor, Kami Geron, Frankie Viglietta, Devan Parsons, Lily Johnson, Hannah Farber, and Kelsey Bobrowsky.
For more information about “A Single Tick,” please contact Riley Sims at rileysims.art@gmail.com or Audrey Barcio at akbarcio@bsu.edu.
Artist’s statement
“A Single Tick” focuses on my personal experiences with Lyme disease and aims to bring attention to the lack of funding and research surrounding this debilitating illness.
I was diagnosed with Lyme disease years after suffering from chronic pain and other symptoms. Unfortunately, my doctor was only looking for the classic bullseye rash as an indicator of the disease, which was not visible on my body at the time. If the medical community had more information and funding for research, perhaps more doctors would be able to identify the disease earlier and provide better treatment options.
Through my work, I teach people what to look for when it comes to Lyme disease so they can catch it in time, such as joint pain, fatigue, and a weakened immune system. My ultimate goal is to raise awareness and funding for research so that one day we may find a cure for this illness.
My artistic vision is to move people through my work, even if they have not personally experienced Lyme fisease. I want my audience to be able to relate to the themes of my work, such as finding a balance between positivity and negativity and maintaining a strong mindset in the face of adversity. By creating a connection with my viewers, I inspire them to take action and support the cause.
In creating my thesis exhibition, “A Single Tick,” I use my process as a form of therapy and as an outlet to express my frustrations and struggles. The action-based technique of soak staining allows me to express my emotions powerfully and viscerally, where I splash and throw diluted paint onto raw canvas. I use bright colors to represent joy and optimism and black repeated elements to symbolize the invading bacteria and negative thoughts associated with Lyme disease.
There are many days when I cannot make art due to a flare-up of my Lyme disease symptoms, and on the days that I can I use the repeated movement of the brush strokes to meditate and relax. These repeated elements in my work represent the ongoing struggles and frustrations of living with Lyme disease, but they are intertwined with bright colors to show that there is always hope and positivity even in the darkest of times. By overlapping and weaving these elements together, I aim to represent the balance between the positive and negative aspects of life and the importance of maintaining a positive mindset when dealing with chronic illness.
“A Single Tick” is a powerful expression of the daily struggles and victories that come with living with Lyme disease. Through my thesis exhibition, I bring awareness, inspire others, and encourage action toward funding research for a cure. Lyme disease is a debilitating illness that affects so many people, and by raising awareness and creating a connection with my audience, I want to make a difference in the lives of those affected by this disease.