Artist creates her own reflection

Bloomington artist Jill Weber literally 'reflects' her respect for the environment in her own way: creating functional art mirrors.\n"I am proud of the fact I am a green artist," Weber said. "A green artist is an artist whose work respects the environment."\nWeber displays and sells her works of art through various art galleries, shows and her Web site, www.halomirrors.com. \nAccording to her Web site, the mirrors are crafted out of Indiana hardwoods and acrylics.\nThe works intrigued Danielle McClelland, director of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater on Kirkwood Avenue. She chose to feature Weber's work at the Textillery Gallery this month. The gallery houses changing exhibits of work by local and regional artists and is always looking for new artists to highlight.\nMcClelland's interest in Weber's work was in part drawn to her environmentally friendly practices.\n"(Weber) never uses exotic woods, and she plants seedlings for every piece she makes (to replenish the trees)," McClelland said. "Her paints and finishes are water-based, so they're not toxic, and she recycles the sawdust created by her work. The whole process is environmentally friendly."\nWeber's work is also symbolic of Earth and the environment. She discovered a book by Marija Gimbutas, a Lithuanian-born archeologist who believed that early European civilization centered on a goddess and was rooted in respect for women and nature. Gimbutas was a major influence on the feminist spirituality movement. \nWeber's work "Goddess as Muse in Mirrors," one of the pieces featured at the Textillery Gallery, was based on the symbols of the Great Goddess as discussed in Gimbuta's book, "Language of the Goddess."\n"Much of her symbolism is a circle," McClelland said, "so a lot of her work is a circle. She also uses sculptural pieces that come out of the frame and are then reflected in the mirror, so you see a different surface (in the mirror). It's an interesting play on reflection."\nThe Buskirk-Chumley Theater will host an artist reception for Weber from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today in the Textillery Gallery on the second floor. \nAll of the work will be on sale and can be purchased through the Sunrise Box Office.\nThe event is free to the public and will be catered by Bloomingfoods Theater Café with finger food, beer, wine and other beverages. \nWeber's work will also be displayed throughout January in the gallery, which is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday and is accessible through the Theater Café. \n-- Contact staff writer Jenny Kobiela at jkobiela@indiana.edu.