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Third Street Gallery archive: 2007 Exhibitions: Doorway to Darkness: Illustrations by Mariko Pratt

Third Street Gallery • -

Humboldt State University’s First Street Gallery is pleased to present Doorway to Darkness: Illustrations by Mariko Pratt on exhibition from August 24, 2007 through September 23, 2007.  This exhibition features original illustrations from two stories by Pratt, The Gorgon’s Smile and The Cold Curse Files.  The gallery is also showing small sculptures by Pratt, depicting some of the characters that appear in her stories.

Inspired by her love for the North Coast, Japanese folklore and fantasy writers like C.S. Lewis; Pratt’s fairytale-like illustrations take the reader on a twisting tale through the doorways of a magical, spirit-inhabited world, complete with mystery and humor. On entering those doorways, she writes:

Let’s suppose that instead of leaving, we decided to take a peek inside.  Let’s suppose that instead of dark, dreary rooms, we found a completely different world in which anything is possible, including magic.  Let’s suppose that this particular house is actually one in a series of gates connecting a vast sprawling multi-verse.
            
We humans like to think such things are conceptually possible, that we can venture through a seemingly ordinary doorway and have an adventure in a place far from the acknowledged framework of scientific laws.   It may sound great until you consider what might be lurking on the other side of that particular door.

Pratt was born in 1973 in Mountain View, California and raised in McKinleyville, California.  She graduated from McKinleyville High School and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Humboldt State University in Studio Art in 1994.

A reception for the artist will be held during Arts Alive! on Saturday, September 1st.  Humboldt State University First Street Gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. and is located at 422 First Street, Eureka, California.  Admission is free.  Those planning group tours are encouraged to call ahead.  For more information call 707-826-3424.