LITTLE ROCK, AR – On December 2nd Maria Elena De Avila’s art exhibition show opened at Oval Gallery. A spectacular ethnic and religious art show of metal and wood crosses and modern icons is available for viewing to the public from December 2, 2005 through January 6, 2006.



Peper Peper, Oval’s owner said, “in 2004 Maria Elena won the number one place in our gallery out of 83 art pieces. Her art is very unique.”



The local Mexican artist, Maria Elena de Avila said of her showing, “for as long as I can remember, the Mexican landscape gave me a deep impression and love through Mexican artisan art. For years I observed the more renowned artisan towns of my country. These towns, along with the enthusiasm and guidance of my father, shaped and developed my aesthetic ideas and love for my country’s own art.”



De Avila describes her passion, “with direct observation of reality, I was inspired to recovered and transmit the deepest roots of these traditions into the art form called Repousse. The art of Repousse enables me to express the internal images that come from my heart. My artistical soul is bringing to Arkansas a small portion of the Mexican art.”



The art of Reposse was brought to Spain by Arabic conquerors in the form of designs skillfully impressed into leather. The Spanish improved upon this art form by embossing a design into sheets of cooper, tin, silver, gold and later aluminum. This art form was eventually brought from Spain to Mexico by Spanish conquistadors.



This art is the artistic result of hundreds of years of development and the mix of two cultures, the Indian and the Spanish. Expressing monumentality and simplicity, ...