Today let’s take a look at the playfully irreverent work of the artistic team of Amanda and Kristofer Sibrel! They’ve currently got a wonderful show at PG, showcasing pieces characteristic of each artist’s very distinct approach. Here’s the Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/248066348731601/ and below I have more images of each artist’s work! First, Amanda:

Amanda couples delicate pencil work on wood with painstakingly wrought patterns and tessellations to create a series of small gems that superficially resemble Russian or Greek icons, complete with roughly hewn wooden frames. However, this religious imagery is humorously applied to cats, with names like “Lazarus, Lord of Terror” and “Devourer of Souls” accompanying the admittedly rather adorable haloed housecats they describe. Although I must admit, as a long-time cat owner (or maybe “tolerated room-mate” is a better term) I could easily see any of these fearsome descriptions fitting a cat.

Kristofer’s gorgeous and unusual stained-glass pieces, each boasting its own light source, are a wonderful counterpoint to these quiet wooden portraits. Not pictured is “Sensory Fenestration,” a joint stained-glass effort between Amanda and Kristopher blazing with the different talents of each artist. These stained-glass works continue the theme of turning religious imagery on its head with pieces like “Lucifer’s Leotard,” a light-hearted and visually pleasing piece which nonetheless is modestly framed in an inverted cross. “Nosfowlratu” reveals more and more bird shapes as you look at it. And of course, like Amanda’s iconic pieces, stained glass is a medium many of us might typically associate with a religious setting.

I suspect that this gentle kaleidoscopic shifting of provocative elements may be the secret of “Let’s Agree to Disagree.” In an understated way, these pieces appropriate religious imagery to poke gentle fun at the ideas and images which have caused so much passion and unrest over the centuries. When you think about it, that’s pretty bold stuff! But rather than approach their bold statement like a shout or a slap in the face, this show resonates with the promise that even those with radically different beliefs and backgrounds can find a common ground, even one where they can laugh.

As usual, I’m only going to show you a few of these marvelous pieces. Suffice to say I adored the show in its entirety and I highly recommend it! It will be hanging at PG until June 17th, so go catch it!