Matiacio’s beer wagon serve as Bierfest poster

CELEBRATING THE ARTS

BOERNE — Leslie Matiacio, local artist and educator, calls her work Impressionist Pop Art.

In an interview she stated, “I like the idea of editing visual information. When I paint, I think about the questions, what is the least information I can show to give the viewer the impression of what I am painting?

“For example,” she said, “what is it that makes a bumper look made out of chrome, or what makes that headlight look shiny?”

While Matiacio paints still lifes, portraits and landscapes, her very favorite subjects are vintage cars and trucks. One can see the Pop Art influence in her work with her use of popular cultural images painted in bright colors in settings using contemporary schemes. She does not use black in her paintings, instead mixing her own darks, and prefers colors mixed with neutrals. Bright colors used in the underpainting peek through in the final process.

A selection of her artwork can be viewed at Gallery 195, on Boerne’s Hill Country Mile. The 7th annual Boerne BierFest autographed and limited-edition art poster produced by Matiacio will be available at BierFest at the HCCArts booth or by contacting: [email protected] for purchase information.

In an article titled, “Beer on Wheels through the Decades,” the reference photograph is identified as a 1930s vehicle, referred to as a “jalopy,” and driven through the streets blaring music and a Blatz beer commercial.

In 1875 Blatz was the first Milwaukee brewery to have a bottling department bottling beer and shipping nationwide, and by the 1900s, became the city’s third largest brewery. Blatz was noted for its aggressive and unusual marketing techniques.

Matiacio wants her artwork to be engaging, nostalgic, and fun. She said she feels it is important to present herself as both artist and educator, hoping to inspire students to pursue their creative passions.

For all things BierFest, and to purchase tickets, refer to www. boernebierfest.com.

Follow Hill Country Council for the Arts on Facebook and Instagram; visit the HCCA website at: www.hccarts.org; or send inquiries to president@hccarts. org.

HCCArts develops and enriches an environment that supports and promotes awareness, appreciation, education and access to all the arts.

Paula Horner is president of the Hill Country Council for the Arts.