WILMINGTON, DE.- Universal fears and hopes intersect with personal introspection in Fluidity, the next community curated Outlooks exhibition at the Delaware Art Museum. Fluidity presents 42 works by Carla Lombardi, N. Sarangoulis, Libbie Soffer, and Valetta, women artists whose paths have intertwined in various artistic collaborations.

Since its inception in 2008, the Outlooks Exhibition Series has invited local artists, leaders, and members of the public to suggest group exhibitions. The idea for this exhibition, which runs September 3, 2016 - February 12, 2017, comes from Lombardi, who suggested the title Fluidity, with its intimations of flux and exploration.

"While each artist demonstrates mastery of specific techniques, ranging from sculptural ceramics to found-object installations to watercolor and pastel, they are united in allowing spontaneity and intuition to animate their works of art," says Dr. Mary F. Holahan, Curator of Illustration and Curator of the Outlooks Exhibition Series.

Carla Lombardi creates narratives in her ceramic sculptures, which feature theater settings, bas- relief figures, and plates. The action, characters, and mood in her diminutive but complex stage sets are partly informed by early memories of her native Italy. Lombardi holds an MFA in Ceramics from the Tyler School of Art at Temple University in Philadelphia. Her work resides in the Caltagirone Ceramics Museum, in Italy, and in many private collections in Italy, New York, and Philadelphia.

N. Sarangoulis reflects on the motion of birds, which she captures in watercolor on the pages of old books, linking the arts of painting and found-object installations. Her abstract works reflect colors and forms she observed during an artist's residency in the Raghurajpur International Arts and Crafts Exchange in India. She holds a BFA from Kutztown University and studied at the Ecoles D'Arts Américaines in Fontainebleau.

Libbie Soffer uses both traditional and improvisational techniques in her multi-media works. Her implied stories unfold in works replete with figural and abstract elements. She began to design and make fiber works as a child and studied at multiple institutions, including Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia.

Valetta's pastels explore a dreamlike world, full of mysterious symbols, atmospheric space, and sometimes androgynous figures. While her imagery is distilled from her personal journey, her paintings offer viewers a chance to create stories of their own. She holds a BS in Art Education from Pratt Institute in New York. She also studied art at Tyler School of Art, West Chester University, Penn State University, and the University of Pennsylvania. She is founder and director of the Regional Center for Women in the Arts in Westtown, Pennsylvania.