CRESTON ARTS PRESENTS: LUSTER (LOESS-TER)

July 19th, 2025. CRESTON, IA - Creston Arts welcomes the landscape work of Emily McQueen. 

This exhibit will consist of oil paintings depicting the land and sky of the Loess Hills, a unique landform that distinguishes the region's vibrant landscape. The collection includes oil paintings on stretched canvas, oil paintings framed in embroidery hoops, and oil and block print paintings on cradled panels.

The theme and focus of this collection, LUSTER, emphasizes the lustrous quality of the light that often appears when admiring the landscape at the end of the day. The air seems to sparkle and glow in these moments, connecting the viewer to the environment in a deeper way. The glow also reveals depths of color that play off the ever-changing palette of the prairie.

The Loess Hills are significant to Emily because of their hiking potential. As a paraplegic of 25 years, she has reclaimed her freedom to hike with the use of an adaptive e-mountain bike. This device allows her to connect with the land and observe views not possible from a wheelchair. The grassy mowed paths are an inclusive and welcoming terrain for all. The return to exploration through hiking after decades of limitation is like a rebirth for Emily.

Closing Reception

The public is invited to an artist’s reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, August 29th, at Creston Arts Depot Gallery, 116 W. Adams St. Light refreshments will be served. 

The exhibit will be open to the public for August. Gallery admission is free. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The gallery is closed on weekends. 

About the Artist

Emily McQueen is a painter living in Glenwood, Iowa. McQueen draws inspiration from the Iowa landscape, her life as a disabled woman, and personal experiences surrounding her faith.  She graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho with a bachelor's degree in University Studies, emphasis in Elementary Education and Art. In 2021, she became the owner of the Fine Arts on Fifth Gallery and Studio in Malvern, Iowa, where she creates her own artwork, teaches classes, and shows the work of other local artists.

About Creston Arts

Creston Arts is a 501(c)3 non-profit that has served the Creston Area since 1977. Our mission is to enrich the lives of Southwest Iowans by bridging the community to the arts through the coordination, advancement, promotion, and administration of all phases of the arts in Creston and the surrounding area. For more information, a calendar of upcoming events, or to make a donation to further our mission, visit www.crestonarts.org or call 641-351-7634.

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