Member’s Spotlight Exhibitions

The Member’s Spotlight Exhibitions at The Contemporary Dayton celebrate the vibrant creativity of our local and regional artist community. Open to all current artist members, this ongoing series offers participants the unique opportunity to present a focused body of work in a solo exhibition curated by Heather Jones, Curator and Director of Programs and Engagement.

Each exhibition is installed in The T. Chase Hale & Jonathan A. Hale Gallery and remains on view for one month, opening with a public reception on the first Wednesday and continuing through the last Saturday of the month. These exhibitions not only highlight the diverse practices and perspectives of our members but also provide a professional platform for artists to gain visibility and engage directly with audiences.

Most artworks are available for purchase, with proceeds supporting both the artist and The Contemporary Dayton’s mission to advance equity, diversity, and access through contemporary art. Participation in the Member’s Spotlight series is one of the many valuable benefits of being an artist member of The Contemporary Dayton.

On View

Teresa Olavarria, Lichen 3, 2021, lost wax cast bronze, 9 x 14 x 1.5 inches, $975. Courtesy of the artist.

Teresa Olavarria: Lichen

May 6 – 30, 2026

Opening Reception: May 6, 6 – 8 pm

Closing Reception: May 30, 4 – 6 pm

Often overlooked as gray-green growth on bark or stone, lichen reveals, upon closer inspection, intricate living forms and delicate clusters of frilled surfaces and tiny orbs in quiet harmony. A symbiotic partnership between algae or cyanobacteria and fungi, lichen also signals ecological health, pointing to the interconnectedness of living systems.

Dayton-based artist Teresa Olavarria translates these ephemeral organisms into enduring materials, using vitreous enamel on copper and patinated cast bronze to echo their textures and colors. Through these processes, fragile life forms are preserved in metal and glass, becoming both study and tribute. The works in Teresa Olavarria: Lichen provide an invitation to look more closely at the natural world and recognize its quiet complexity.

All artworks in this exhibition are available for purchase. Please visit the reception desk or speak to a staff member to purchase. Proceeds support both the artist and The Contemporary Dayton’s mission to connect artists and audiences through accessible, engaging contemporary art experiences.

ARTIST STATEMENT
I was never particularly attracted to the grayish green organism covering the bark of trees. Like many, I assumed it was a sign of decay. One day I noticed a large cluster of black saucers, tiny orbs erupting from a frilly green skin, like so many mouths opening with curled lips yearning to express themselves. Big and small were crowded together in random silent harmony.  I learned the ubiquitous lichen is not only a harmless symbiotic combination of algae or cyanobacteria and fungi, but also an indicator of healthy air quality. Their unusual shape and peculiar biology opened my eyes to the world of lichen which adorn rocks, trees and other surfaces. An appreciation of this often-overlooked species reminds me not to take our beautiful and fragile planet for granted. We are never too old to learn more about the world around us and how everything is interconnected.

In this series I explored the color and shape of lichen in vitreous enameled copper and patinated cast bronze. The enameling process involves meticulously applying multiple layers of granulated glass to a sheet of copper and fusing each in a small kiln. The bronze sculpture started with a model created in wax which was then encased in plaster, melted and replaced with molten metal. After cleaning and further refining, the metal object was colorized with chemicals and pigments.  By capturing fragile life forms in metal and glass I preserve them for an uncertain future and allow them to survive indoors or in otherwise inhospitable environments.

About the Artist

Teresa Olavarria lives in Dayton, Ohio. Strong familial influences in science, engineering, international culture, and art played an important role in developing her sensibilities. Gardening, hiking, camping and traveling instilled curiosity and an appreciation for nature. Growing up in a large family kindled an interest in psychology and provided an environment rich with multiple perspectives.

A graduate of the University of Dayton Fine Arts program, Olavarria continues learning about and teaching art. Lou Weber, David Brand, Tess Little and Jim Killy are among her metal casting mentors. She has taught enameling at Rosewood Arts Center, the Carpenter Art Enameling Center, and the Dayton Art Institute. She instructed drawing and collage at Dayton Metro Libraries. Art affiliations include The Contemporary Dayton, Ohio Valley Enameling Guild, Dayton Society of Arts, the Ohio Art League and Art Lunch.

Olavarria’s work ranges from biological studies, conceptual work, observations and manipulation of light and shadow. She specializes in one-of-a-kind sculptures made of metal, vitreous enamels, glass, stone and found objects. Coding, computer aided design, and electronic assembly have occasionally been incorporated into her pieces.  Carefully chosen materials mimic the strength, fragility and elusive qualities of the subject conveyed. The use of metaphors, similes and puns add meaning and depth to her imagery. Research and analysis inform her work, providing a complexity that invites further thought.