In two new pieces, artist continues her series of ‘fairytales for grown-ups’

Gallery visitors traditionally attend a new exhibit to view finished work expressing an artist’s viewpoint. That’s not quite the case in Miki Boni’s show at In-Town Gallery, which opened Saturday and will remain on view through the end of August.

Boni has released paintings of the two newest characters, Britta and Emit, in her “Inner World” series. Each painting comes with a short vignette written by Boni that sets the tone for the action in each piece – but her fiction is left open-ended. The pieces are teasers leading the viewer to decide what the outcome will be.

“I like to call them short fairytales for grown-ups,” says the artist. “They are the kind of stories that you fill in the rest for yourself. They all have to do with adventures, and there are so many possible futures that can happen at the end of the adventure. That’s what I love: What could happen.”

Boni began her Inner World series two years ago and, with the addition of Britta and Emit, has completed 28. She has chosen six previously finished pieces, along with the two newest, for the In-Town show. The paintings share common themes of birds, head coverings of all styles and patterning grounded in black-and-white elements.

“It’s wonderful, full of vivid colors,” says Marian Kern, In-Town Gallery president. “It gives you a feeling of medieval or Renaissance times. Each of the paintings is related to the others; the vignette stories are delightful and ask questions. They open up the imagination.”

Boni, a classically trained artist, says she hopes the exhibit resonates with viewers, and that they leave recalling something from their childhood that “brings them joy, something from their own inner vision.”

In the Inner World series, Boni pulls the whimsical personality out of her characters through her art and creative writing with folks as vibrant as the colors in which they are painted.

“I’m in every one of these paintings,” she says. “For instance, in ‘I Was Told to Wait Here,’ I’m someone who can’t stand still. So if I saw things falling from the sky, I’d stop and look up, move toward it rather than run away.

“If I see somebody paddleboarding on the river, I’ll just start thinking that would make an interesting story. Where would they be going? Why did they have to get there? First comes the imagery and, as I do the imagery, the story is evolving at the same time.”

Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.

Vignette: “She Dressed for the Occasion”

“Britta’s pet bird, Afra, followed her everywhere. They were color coordinated buds. Because they just arrived from Iceland, Britta’s wardrobe reflected her home climate. But it was here and hot and Britta was beginning to wilt. “Afra, beat your wings and cool me, please.” The bird tried its best but soon tired and collapsed on Britta’s shoulder. With every step, she felt herself melting. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the first cool breeze swept over them, changing the moment into something miraculous. However, they would soon shudder to discover where it was coming from. And why.”

Vignette: “I Was Told To Wait Here”

“My name is Emit. I was never able to stand still. I come from a space where pasts and futures converge. So in order to move from moment to moment, it is necessary to wait at a designated transport station. As I said I was never able to stand still. I was told to wait exactly in this place, near this building where the three spaceballs were falling. And I did, but because I can’t stand still, I kept missing the moment.”