This July, Artspace artist, Eric McRay puts the spotlight on his new collages in a one-man show entitled "Redemption & Temptation." This body of work will address a range of imagery through the medium of collage (or papier collé), such themes as maternity, religion, labor, leisure, sensuality and the family in the African-American culture.

The new collages will be on display in the UpFront Gallery at Artspace at 201 East Davie Street in downtown Raleigh. In this body of work, Eric McRay has used the medium of collage (papier collé) to proclaim his appreciation of the African-American experience. Collage is how he inserts pieces of the real world into a constructed one. McRay has adopted impromptu invention in the construction of his collages, in which he uses such materials as painted papers, photographic reproductions, snippets of photographs, scraps of fabric, elements from magazines, cut & torn paper, watermedia & acrylic paints.

McRay has edited different materials of everyday existence, and sliced and reassembled them into amazingly new images on paper, board or canvas. These constructed worlds pull the viewer into a new reality. In short, the medium of collage empowers him to push the boundaries that allow the real world to infiltrate a painting, dissolve the conventions that separate art & life, high art & popular culture.

McRay received his BFA degree at the Maryland Institute, College of Art, where he earned a four-year scholarship for his artistic talent. A native of Washington, DC, he moved to North Carolina in 1987, where he has become a major force in the NC art community.

In November 1998, McRay was juried into Raleigh's prestigious Artspace. Since opening his Artspace studio in downtown Raleigh, McRay has become one of the most exciting artists in the Triangle area. Eric has served in the offices of Vice-President and President of the Artspace Artists Association, as well as serving on the Artspace board of directors.

Since joining the Raleigh community, Eric has participated and supported many charitable art exhibits and other community art events, such as the American Red Cross, Prevent Blindness of NC, Alliance Medical Ministries, Works of Heart, among others.

McRay has been featured on TV and radio shows, and in numerous newspapers and magazines; such as Southern Living magazine for example. Some of Eric's corporate collectors include American Tobacco Campus, Capitol Broadcasting Company, Duke University Medical Center, NC State University, SAS Institute, UNC - Chapel Hill and Western Wake Hospital, as well as many private collectors locally, nationally and internationally.

McRay is member and resident artist at Artspace in downtown Raleigh, NC. where he has an ongoing display of his works. McRay is located in Studio 205. For special appointment call (919) 838-0755.

McRay's show "Redemption & Temptation" will run from July 6 - July 30 in the UpFront Gallery at Artspace Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Artspace is kicking off the show with an Opening Reception for McRay on Friday, July 6 (6-10 p.m.) during the First Friday Gallery Walk. The reception is open to the public and admission is free.

www.mcraystudios.com

Contact: Tammy Smith, Mobile #: 919-614-3377, Studio #: 919-838-0755