In anticipation of the event, here is a brief interview staff conducted with Starla:

What are some of your artistic influences? When you’re looking for inspiration where do you turn?

Van Gogh, Seraphine DeSenlis, and Gustav Klimt are all artist I am fascinated with and influenced by. Their lives and struggles inspire me, especially Seraphine DeSenlis and Van Gogh. When I am dealing with creative block, I like to pray, because afterwards, I feel a release of the tension and emotion, and I can paint more freely. Painting feels like an act of worship. I guess you could say I paint through my problems. When I paint there is definitely a rhythm that I'm a part of because it feels like I'm dancing or conducting music. I've had friends tell me that they enjoy watching me paint because of this. Almost everywhere I look I see a painting - especially when I'm walking in nature at dusk. The silhouettes of trees or the way a flock of ducks moves on the water – all of it seems to sing as part of that “rhythm” and I want to take snapshots of it all in my mind.

Describe the texture of your pieces, and how it is achieved.

I usually achieve the texture of the painting at the very end of the entire process. At this point, I feel like I'm about to win the lottery, finish a marathon, and explode into a million pieces. I lose track of what I'm doing or if I'm even using a brush. I get so involved in a piece that I start using paint straight from the tube. I feel like a surgeon, cake decorator, and gardener conglomerated into one, mending ailing areas, creating delicacies, and growing lush spirals of color from amorphous gobs of paint.

How did you decide you wanted to be an artist?

I knew the desire was there when I was four years old. I don't think I decided to be an artist, but I believe it's part of me; I don't think I could ever decide not to be an artist. Whatever I do, I do it the way an artist does. From cooking to cleaning, everything feels like art. Interestingly, I ran away from the thought of being an artist until I was around twenty years old. I picked up a paintbrush one day in a design class and realized that it felt so natural, it seemed like it was part of my hand. After that, I'd stay up all night painting; feeling more alive than I had ever felt. At that point, I decided that I wouldn't listen to all the fears and stereotypes and I would just go with the fact that I felt alive when I painted. That feeling outweighed everything else…any criticism, any opinion.

What are some future projects or ideas you’re interested in pursuing?

Children’s books - writing - using my paintings for the illustrations. I'dlike to influence children to open their minds and hearts to their true potential. More for personal interest, I would like to explore reproducing my art on textiles, fabrics, pillows, and dresses and developing my own line. My grandmother used to have these lace scarves that I would play with when I was around four and they were so feminine and beautiful to me. I think my art would make beautiful fabric.