Closing soon: Nature tends toward clutter and repetition -- too many leaves, a zillion blades of grass, wave upon wave. Great art strips away all that distracting busy-ness to focus on the essence of things. In this beautifully composed and welcoming little show, three artists take unique approaches to the problem of simplifying. Cynthia Rae Levine's minimalist ceramic sculptures merely hint at nature, their sleekly rounded bellies and wedged designs may be pure geometry or bird-like abstractions. Abigail Woods Anderson records cross-sections of a fallen tree trunks in gouache designs that suggest vast landscapes seen in miniature. And Clara Ueland's serenely elegant intaglio prints, including "Forest Pool" seen here, bring the clarity of traditional Japanese imagery to Twin Cities lakes and vistas of the Boundary Waters. Anderson will demonstrate her meticulous painting techniques from noon to 4 p.m. July 14 at the gallery, free. (Show ends July 14, free. Groveland Gallery, 25 Groveland Terrace, Mpls., 612-377-7800, or www.grovelandgallery.com.)
MARY ABBE
