Local artist Alexis Erskine held an art gallery reception at the Capitol Theatre on Sunday, Nov. 16 in honor of being awarded the Kentucky Foundation of Women’s Art Enrichment Grant. 

Erskine’s gallery “A Feminine Nature” reflected on how relationships with others impact one’s sense of self. The body of work used moss and other outdoor mediums like clay and sticks to connect to the women in Erskine’s life. 

“The moss in each of these pieces, like a mycelium network, connects Lexie to these women and herself through themes of grief, resilience, compassion, creativity and more,” the gallery description stated.

Erskine said she loved collecting pieces of nature as a child and has been making art with moss since 2001. She said when she learned about the KFW Artists Enrichment Grant, which pays artists to do a body of work in new mediums, she wanted to explore feminine nature. 

The grant provides opportunities to Kentucky-based feminist artists and organizations to further artistic development and create art to inspire social change, according to the KFW website. 

“I grew up as a kid who didn’t quite connect to society’s definitions of femininity or girlhood or what that meant, but I’ve always been deeply, deeply connected to women and their stories, both through friendship and mentorship,” Erskine said. “My family and I have this belief that I am who I am because of the influence of people in my life and I wanted to explore that.”

Erskine said she spends a couple months observing, learning, and collecting materials before creating the art. 

“I traveled to go see my grandmother in Oklahoma and foraged clay from there that I could bring home,” Erskine said. “I did my own pit firing and a bunch of assembling for all the art pieces.” 

Erskine said that one of the most meaningful parts of sharing her art with the public has been allowing herself to be seen by others.

“Before now it was a secret part of me that I kept in my home and now I get to share it with others and hopefully they get to connect with each other about it all too,” Erskine said.