This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Jan. 18, 2012 - Local artist Sandra Marchewa has created "Pills, Thrills, and Bellyaches," a gem of a work at Isolation Room and perfect for the gallery's intimate dimensions, which allow you to get up close and study its brilliant, joyful detail.
On a translucent sheet of Plexi, Marchewa has created thousands of tiny circles, each harboring a surprising little icon.
Some are innocent, like hearts and flowers; others are slightly subversive, naughtily rendered in pretty pink and glitter.
The Plexi is installed an inch or so away from the wall, so you also get to enjoy the colored reflections behind the piece.
It's a triumph on a tidy scale -- little like the artist herself.
The Basics
When: Through Feb. 2 | Where: Isolation Room/Gallery Kit, 5723 Dewey Ave. | When: Hours by appointment only: gallerykit@gmail.com | Information: https://www.isolationroom-gallerykit.com/currentexhibition.html
Ivy Cooper is the Beacon visual arts reviewer and a professor of art at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.