Marilyn Stevens' work bridges abstraction and realism. She has spent recent years collecting vintage clothing patterns and old dressmaker forms while also exploring personal relationships and their effect on her art. Stevens combines these once-everyday objects with paint, thread and a variety of materials – pewter, hand-blocked fabrics, old letters – all reconstructed sculpturally to invoke one of the subjects that most fascinates her, the human form. At first glance to her work, one sees Stevens’ re-appropriation and re-use of pattern tissue and dress forms. But further exploration of each piece reveals a multitude of layers. A host of stories, feelings and life reflections are re-interpreted through bits of cloth, paper and thread.

Both Stevens and Restemayer see the stitch as a link to previous generations, though the life circumstances of their mothers and grandmothers made sewing a different kind of necessity. Rather than a pragmatic practice, these two artists stitch as an intentional artist’s mark – a shared means of expression.

Rosalux Gallery is funded and managed by its 24 artist members. Consumers buy direct from the artist who creates the work. Rosalux is a vibrant and growing community of Twin Cities artists working together to help build not only each others' careers, but also the Twin Cities' art community.