Local Color Gallery welcomes guest artist Amy Nichols from May 19 through June 21. She will talk about her Art Quilts at the May Art Walk reception Friday, May 22, from 4 - 7 p.m. Nichols will speak at 5:30 p.m.

According to a Gallery news release, Nichols says her Art Quilts have grown out of her life-long love for color, shape, design, and texture. One of her earliest influences was wandering among the colorful fabrics and textiles in the bazaars of Kabul, Afghanistan, as a child. Another important influence was teaching her young elementary students the principles of art and design. Some of the artists she studied included Mondrian, Klee, Matisse and Kandinsky, whose work excited and inspired Nichols to create her Art Quilts. She is fascinated by the infinite possibilities for playful, intuitive expression with fabrics and textiles, led by her curiosity to explore each new “what if...?”

Amy Nichols’ art quilting journey has been largely self-directed. Over the years, she has taken many classes in art quilting techniques. She has also actively participated in groups such as Art Quilts Maine, through which her quilts have been exhibited in the annual Maine State Quilt Show and touring shows in many libraries across the state. Together with her neighbor and fellow art quilter, she has collaborated in an exhibit of their work in the Bangor Public Library and in four joint shows at the Belfast Free Library. Nichols always loves to explore and apply new concepts in her compact studio in Belfast.

Local Color Gallery is located at 135 High Street in Belfast. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 to 5 and Sunday 11 to 4. For more information see localcolorgallerymaine.org or call 207-218-1249.