LEWISTON – The work of artist Shannon Cote is on display at the Beeaker Gallery at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center until Aug. 21.

Cote said, “My love for painting is often eclipsed by the frustration of trying to put my actions as an artist into words. It is a struggle, not for a lack of depth or thought in my work, but for caution of dictating to the viewer what should be ‘seen.’ I try to avoid infusing my works with too much meaning.”

Her conscious decision not to over-think her paintings is intended to trigger a response that is personal and unique to each viewer. In her abstract works, she attempts to bring resolution and stillness out of chaos, creating beautiful composition out of random, “ugly” strokes and color, she said.

Cote graduated with a bachelor of fine arts degree from the Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford, Hartford, Conn., in 2000. Her work has been displayed at galleries in Hartford, Conn., as well as local exhibitions at Nothing But the Blues Café in Lewiston, Turner Center for the Arts in Turner and Stadler Gallery in Kingfield.