Kristen Lee Florey - Amici's Italian Restaurant - Feb. 18, 2004 - 3 1/2 stars

Florey's work - the energy, colors and the execution of her encaustic paintings - is such a breath of fresh air. These are real action paintings. A propane stove, woodcarving tools and a blowtorch are a few of the tools that assist in these spontaneous abstracted creations. Broad applications of beeswax and rich pigments to her canvases create lush, thick and deep textured surfaces. "Flexing Muscles," a steal at $250, contains a pure Zuni turquoise blue tone that practically flashes against the subdued orange and black it shares the canvas with. Her energetic process gives life to the deconstructed forms she paints. The word "Liberty" resonates as a descriptor for the overall visual appearance of this show ripe with gesture. Www.kristenleeflorey.com. Through Feb. 29, 2004; 317-634-0440. -Mary Lee Pappas