Graphite on paper has never looked so stunning as in Melissa Cooke’s captivating drawings. Often focusing on self-portraits and self-exploration, she is expanding her repertoire to include portraits of places and objects, making us look closer at the familiar. Her process is unique and does not use traditional mark-making tools. Graphite is dusted and lightly blown onto the surface of the paper with a dry brush, then smudged and manipulated. No pencils are used, allowing for the surface to glow and transcend with shine. The final result is soft, feathery, and lush. A new body of work will be on view at MOWA this fall, October 15, 2016 – January 15, 2017.