Local contemporary artist debuts new artworks exploring the beauty of life at Marysville gift shop

Chrilz, a figurative artist who lives and works in the Blue Water area, will be exhibiting new pieces in his on-going collection called threads at Apple Blossom Gifts in Marysville at the end of February. In his words, threads explores the beauty within life’s simplest moments, and how the seemingly insignificant details can be transformative. “I began producing this series three years ago this month, and I wanted it to serve as an antidote to the very high-consumption, technological age we inhabit,” Chrilz says. “So far, I’ve completed and published twenty pieces, and all of them seek to focus viewer attention towards the little, fleeting moments in life that are easily overlooked, yet deeply impactful in unexpected ways.”

As a thirty-year-old artist who has been exhibiting professionally for the past nine years, Chrilz feels strongly about bridging the gap between mainstream culture and contemporary art, and accessibility is one goal he has for threads as an entire collection. “I think many folks can feel intimidated or even hostile towards what is understood as contemporary art nowadays. This has been something I’ve tried to confront throughout my career—whether through written publications or videos discussing some of my pieces. threads takes a further step in this effort by being small in scale and price.” Like all of his work, pieces in the threads collection are done in colored pencil and graphite, but these pieces are distinguished by very small dimensions that echo their intimate qualities. Every piece is also accompanied by text that Chrilz describes as being a part of the visual piece itself. “Not only do I hope viewers find something that resonates within themselves by viewing these pieces at a very deep, personal level, but I also hope it offers them an opportunity to become first-time art buyers without feeling a major financial burden.”

Though a lifelong resident of the Blue Water area, this exhibition marks Chrilz’ first local showing of his work. Unlike a traditional art show, the presentation will be an installation experience that is meant to enhance the space rather than overshadow it. Apple Blossom Gifts, located at the corner of Huron Avenue and Michigan Avenue in Marysville, first inspired him with the idea when he visited it as a customer last summer. All ten of the new pieces he has created will be installed within the existing gift shop in a manner that focuses on subtlety and simplicity. Viewers will walk through the store as they normally would and encounter each of the artworks through the natural course of their browsing. “My goal is to make this an experience for viewers that mimics the ideas and emotions I want the work to express,” Chrilz says. “I’m very grateful to Apple Blossom’s owners, Cathy and Lisa, for so graciously allowing me to use their space to let this vision to come alive. It’s quite a gift to me, and I hope this collaboration is very fruitful for their business—supporting local, small business is important to me since I consider myself a sort of ‘small business’ too as an independent artist.”

The exhibition will take place during normal store hours beginning Monday, February 23rd through Saturday, February 28th, with a special two-hour evening viewing period on Thursday, February 26th from 6PM to 8PM. Apple Blossom Gifts is open regularly Monday through Friday from 10AM to 5PM, and Saturday from 10AM to 3PM. Viewers coming to see Chrilz’ work are encouraged to share the experience by bringing friends and family, and to support the store by purchasing a gift for a loved one during their visit. Apple Blossom Gifts will remain fully operational during the installation week.