At the Inside-OUT Gallery, every cloud does have a silver lining as we feature Lilyanna Sayre, a Somerville- based artist whose creativity knows no bounds. The series “Fly Free” is inspired by her love of jumping out airplanes from 13,500 feet up in the sky for a bit of weekend fun. Her process is fluid, working in mixed media and acrylic, translating her experiences into works of art. The pieces have a rich vibrant colors that evoke the pure joy she feels when she if up in the air.
Artist Statement
“My creative process is very much integrated with my life experiences. The most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen is from 5000 feet up in the sky flying under my canopy, and not from behind a window. Flying free in the open air, viewing the silver lining of clouds from above, is not an experience easily explained in words. There are still a lot of misconceptions about this sport, and it's not an everyday activity for most people. I'd like to introduce skydiving to a wider audience and bring a little piece of sky to my neighborhood. I first got into skydiving because I've always had a tremendous fear of height, and what better way than to face my fears and push through it? You can do anything you put your mind to. The sky is (not) the limit!"
How the Fly Free series came to be: I'm a USPA licensed skydiver and jump out of planes on weekends in New England during the warmer seasons, and sometimes travel down south with my equipment in the winter. I wanted to bring the free flying feeling from the sky to my neighborhood, as well as introducing various skydiving disciplines to those not familiar with the sport. Women are not well represented in the skydiving community, and I'm a part of an organization called Sisters in Skydiving (SIS) where more experienced women skydivers mentor young women who are just getting started in the sport. Through my story and my art I want to show young women that they can do anything with determination, and sky's not the limit. A part of the sales proceeds from my skydiving series will go to my local SIS chapter to benefit women in skydiving.
Website: https://www.SkydiveArt.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtSaur
About the Inside-Out Gallery
Initiated in 2009, The Inside-Out Gallery is located in the CVS Window in Davis Square, a unique space that allows the public to view an eclectic array of works from artists and local organizations each month. The mission of the Somerville Arts Council is to cultivate and celebrate the creative expressions of the Somerville community. Through innovative collaborations and quality programming we work to make the arts an integral part of life reflective of our diverse city.