Heather Hertel's paintings on sailcloth will be displayed in “Kia Ora” opening Aug. 26 at the Martha Gault Art Gallery.

SLIPPERY ROCK — “Kia Ora” by Heather Hertel will be presented from Aug. 26 to Sept. 19 at the Martha Gault Art Gallery.

An opening reception is planned for 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 5.

“Kia Ora” is the next chapter in Hertel’s ongoing Sailcloth Art Project. The idea began as the artist, while racing on a J/35 sailboat, observed a spinnaker sail becoming unleashed from the vessel ahead, floating above the tree tops on the peninsula of Presque Isle Bay, Erie.

This moment inspired the artist to imbue figurative art with the feeling of wind, movement and weightlessness.

Hertel’s paintings on sailcloth combine and connect the passions of dancing, painting and sailing.

Artwork includes both indoor and outdoor installations consisting of large-scale painting and sculpture on recycled racing sails.

The Sailcloth Art Project includes artists, sailors, dancers, musicians, poets and scientists extending cross-disciplinary responses.

The first exhibition was at the Bayfront Maritime Center during Tall Ships Erie 2016.

The Sailcloth Art Project was recently on view with the exhibition Dream Sails at the New Zealand Maritime Museum in Auckland.

Additional special events for the reception on Sept. 5 include a talk by Xavier Meade from New Zealand at 12:30 p.m.

Also during the reception will be a dance performance.

The Martha Gault gallery, 108 Maltby Ave., Room 102 in the Maltby Building, is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.