WHAT'S ON VIEW

Embracing the Flow

May 1st - June 30th 2025

EMBRACING THE FLOW

Chea

Fluid art is a medium that facilitates a variety of sensations and feelings as long as one does not just “go with the flow”, but is willing and ready to guide and steer the flow to reflect your inspiration and mood. Whereas the artist may have a specific impression she wants to evoke, the viewer can easily provide their own interpretation.

Artist Biography:

Mercedes Castillo Terrell, known as Chea, is a Dominican-born artist whose work in fluid art explores the delicate balance between surrender and control. Chea began experimenting with fluid techniques during the height of the pandemic, turning to the medium as a space for reflection, emotional expression, and creative healing. Her art—spontaneous yet intentional—is shaped by the flow of pigment and the direction of her intuition. Each piece captures not only her creative impulse in the moment, but also the emotional landscape of her lived experiences. Chea’s compositions invite viewers to engage in their own interpretations, often revealing deeply personal reflections shaped by the movement of color.

Chea’s works have been exhibited in collective shows across Miami, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, as well in Spain, Italy, Germany, Dubai, and Switzerland. In 2025, she was featured as a visual artist in the poetry section of Persimmon Tree, a magazine celebrating creative women over 60. Born in the southwest of the Dominican Republic, Chea has lived a life of dynamic evolution—moving from teacher and social worker to clinical psychologist and sex educator. Her academic journey culminated in a PhD in Clinical Psychology, and her professional life has taken her across Central and South America and the United States. She has lived in Carrboro, North Carolina since 2006 with her husband of 31 years and is the proud mother of two adult children.

Artist Statement: Why my love affair with Fluid Art? Firstly, the process of experimenting with new techniques, mixing colors, and preparing my canvases brings me great joy and relaxation. I find it immensely therapeutic. Secondly, in Fluid Art the possibilities are limitless. You can use the same medium, the same paint colors, the same technique, and every time you will get different results; therefore, every piece is unique. What I like most about fluid art are the colors, forms and designs you create as you manipulate the paint on the canvas. What differentiates fluid art from other traditional art is that when you paint with a brush, once the brush stroke is applied to the canvas it remains there. However. once fluid paint is applied to the canvas and you attain the desired result, the painting and colors keep interacting during the curing process. Pouring medium has its own moods and mind that you must interact with during and after the creation process, so embrace the flow.