Artists Stephanie Atlee, Dennis Harrison and Ellen Witebsky break down visual imagery into its most basic shapes and recreate it within the artists’ respective medium of glass, wood and digital photographic print.

The group’s brilliant works will be on display throughout May at Auburn City Hall, 25 W. Main St. The public can view the works 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Admission is free.

A reception for the artists will be held 5:30-7 p.m. May 14.

Atlee’s stained glass work shows the love of shapes and colors that represent her world and imagination. Atlee creates recognizable forms, abstracted imagery and geometrical forms by soldering together shapes of colored glass. She finds working with her hands and wrapping each piece of glass in copper foil prior to soldering is peaceful process and “brings me solace and joy.”

Harrison began woodworking more than 35 years ago and found Marquetry as an ideal method to create detailed and life-like images in wood. Marquetry is an art form that pieces together thin wood veneers that are cut with fine blade tools, such as an exacto knife, which is then temporarily taped together and then glued to a stable backing. The tape is then removed and sanded and finished with oils and protective coatings. The inlaid patters of the wood are enhanced by the wood’s color, grain and texture.

Witebsky’s photographic series explores – with a sense of fun and whimsy – our compulsion to make changes to the natural world and the objects in it. In our insistence to tinker with nature, we turn it into something not quite natural. Witebsky’s photographs begin with a natural photographic image, then uses computer software to distort it beyond recognition. Playing with shapes she alters our perception of every day objects.

The Auburn City Hall Gallery is presented by the Auburn Arts Commission and Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation. For a 2009 Gallery Brochure or for information on other cultural arts programs, go to www.auburnwa.gov/arts or call 253-931-3043.