The Observer Newspapers | Local Artist Inspired by Career With Postal Service

June 6, 2008

Local Artist Inspired by Career With Postal Service

By Leslie Perales
Observer Staff Writer

Birds play on mailboxes and cows meander across dirt roads in the work of Herndon artist Dan Mihalko. His first solo exhibit opened at Market Street Bar and Grill at the Hyatt Regency Reston on Monday. Erica Harrison, gallery manager at the GRACE, said they usually exhibit abstract work at Market Street, but Mihalko's exhibit provides a good contrast from those shows. "It brings a different kind of art appreciation," she said of Mihalko's exhibit, "Mailboxes and Flip Flops."

Originally from Pennsylvania, Mihalko was offered art scholarships to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and the Ivy School of Professional Art. However Mihalko decided to attend the University of Pittsburgh and then pursue a career with the U.S. Postal Service.

His career in the mail industry inspired many of his pieces, and he said the postal service has a long history that is "really worth painting." In addition to his career, Mihalko's other interests, such as the beach and sports, are also reflected in his artwork.

He works mostly in his favorite medium of watercolors, and he recently started to use acrylic paints. Mihalko said that by mixing his watercolor techniques with the different type of paint, he "may have found a new medium to work in."

The Greater Reston Arts Center has been working with the Hyatt for about 15 years to showcase art in the Market Street Bar and Grill, and many artists have to create custom work to display at the Hyatt because of the space allowed for exhibitions, Harrison said. When Mihalko found out he would have the chance to display his art at the restaurant about a year ago, he thought he had enough pieces but soon decided to create something different, he said.

"Most stuff is new," Mihalko said of the paintings on display. "It forced me to do a lot of new work, which is great." He said when he attended other artist receptions at the Hyatt he decided he wanted his work to fit the atmosphere and created more vibrant and whimsical pieces, such as the painting "Beached Cats," which features bright, colorful catamaran boats sitting on the shore of a sunny beach.

In addition painting scenes of his favorite things, Mihalko said he enjoys creating playful titles or thinking about what might be happening in the scene he is painting. He said he likes to use humor in the hopes that people looking at his work will think about it, understand and laugh.

His painting "All Day Long" shows two seagulls, one flapping its wings and the other resting, and Mihalko said at the reception that the title could mean the seagull that is sitting is lazy all day long, or that the seagull flapping its wings could be nagging the other all day long. The painting "Got Mail?" features cows and mailboxes and is a play on the advertising phrase "got milk?" Looking closely at the painting, viewers can see the cows have milk mustaches, much like those featured in advertisements, Mihalko said.

Though Mihalko's work has been featured in other places, he said he was nervous preparing for his first solo show. "You're not sure about how people are going to take your work," he said.

Harrison said Mihalko's art brings rural America to Reston and along with summer-themed beach scenes, the "mundane becomes extraordinary." The exhibit will continue through July 14. Visit www.DanMihalkoGallery.com.