"Celebrating Sligo Creek" Art Opening Reception

Sligo Creek is a lifeblood for wildlife in Takoma Park, an important tributary in our watershed, and a source of creativity and inspiration for local artists.

Two photographers and a mixed-media artist will share their work inspired by the creek and its environs in the Celebrating Sligo Creek exhibition at the Takoma Park Community Center, with a free opening reception on June 15. The exhibition, which will be on view until Sept. 7, features work by Julius Kassovic, Lynn Alleva Lilley, and Steven Robinson.

Julius Kassovic is a fine-art photographer based in Silver Spring. Since 2005, Sligo Creek has been his major muse and the subject of his Intimate Waterscapes series. While working around the world in staff positions with the Peace Corps, he used color negative film to document Peace Corps projects. His work has been exhibited in galleries in the D.C. area and in other states and countries. “I have been intensively shooting photos in Sligo Creek, and I keep finding new expressions of its beauty,” he said. ”I wade into the creek to capture dreamlike images reflecting through the shallow water that appear to be double exposures but are true representations of the creek’s beauty.”

Lynn Alleva Lilley’s photography centers on personal connections to nature and place, which is inspired by poetry, music, painting, and science. Her photos of Sligo Creek and other locales will be featured in the upcoming photo book The Nest. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. “Eight years ago, I walked into the woods of Sligo Creek and was struck by how the bright winter light fell on brambles in the early evening, creating masses of shimmering silver and red lines,” she said. “These lines in nature felt like possibility, a way to question and to weave a life from fragility, fracture, and chaos into a shifting, shimmering beauty.”

Steven Robinson majored in art in college and has worked as an advertising artist for various advertising firms. Using his photos of Sligo Creek as inspiration, he cuts and molds mixed-media work embellished with glass and minerals that represent the vast diversity of nature, including butterflies, insects, reptiles, and amphibians. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a strong awareness of the natural world, especially the small details of shapes, textures, and colors,” he said. “Using my photography and technical skills, I enjoy producing a unique perspective of our beautiful, complex, and perfect natural world.”

This art exhibition is part of the Takoma Park Arts series organized by the City of Takoma Park’s Arts and Humanities Division. Go to takomaparkmd.gov/arts for more info and to sign up for our e-newsletter for news about our upcoming events.