Announcing my
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QUADRANTS and PUZZELS
Arts Upstairs, Phonecia, NY 2011
‘Quadrants and Puzzles’ was my last show at the Arts Upstairs Gallery in Phoenicia, NY last August. The opening was held one week prior to Hurricane Irene and included the focus show piece called ‘And a River Runs Through It’, an eerie coincidence, whose reality changed the lives of thousands a week later.
‘Quadrants and Puzzles’ was originally designed as a 64-piece puzzle made from one foot square pieces. The idea was to give the frame of a painting an expansive and wide range of flexibility with interchangeable options for hanging and viewing. Although created as a whole in design, the separate entities of the parts were only revealed as the pieces were constructed and finally as they were hung. During that finale stage, options on groupings were presented that suggested the interchangeable, the mingling of alike and unalike. This made the puzzle more exciting and mysterious.
When the flood hit a week later, it gave this art show a meaning that will never leave my subconscious mind of memories good and bad, horrid and gentle, frightening and encouraging, breaking up and coming together. The show ‘Quadrants and Puzzles’ has become a tribute to Hurricane Irene and many of its pieces were donated to art auctions benefiting the flood relief. I myself along with hundreds of others in my community lost their homes and belongings that 28th of August 2011. “And a River Runs Through It”!
Artist Statement:
My outlook on life is positive. "I am a sunny girl".
My art work reflects that sun power in every painting. I love nature, the outdoors, the mountains and the sea. My images are organic, bright, light with biomorphic shapes that convey a healing power. I add all sorts of nature found objects to my paintings such as shells, rocks, crystals, bark, seaweed, moss and lots of different shades of sand from various places all over the planet. This emphasizes the direct connection of our world with our spirit. Although abstract and impressionistic at the most in expression, my work is not about content, rather about balancing the outer world with our inner self, the soul. I feel that we all are on a path of spiritual healing. When a viewer looks at my art I hope that he or she finds a satisfaction, a truth, a joyful moment that is uplifting and can carry him through the day.
Please feel free to contact me regarding classes in weaving, natural dyeing,
color theory, fresco painting and the art of making spontaneous art with organic and recycled materials.
I am also happy to assist with interior decorating and fresco mural painting.
Visions for design come easy to me and with your help the actualization could be truly fun. Available for corporate spaces, commercial venues and as a consultant for private collectors.
See Resume for a list of Rita's selected exhibitions and exhibits to
view recent shows!
Rita Schwab Home | Resume | Exhibitions | Studio Tour | Contact Rita
Frescos: One of a Kind | Multiples | Small Works | Shell Paintings | Functional Art | Custom Interiors
Natural Pigmentation: Paintings | Ancient Philosophy | Dye Workshops
Masks: Gallery | Mask Making
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