A Brief Narrative

When I start a painting, I use the process, the material and the subject matter to guide me. They become means for me to organize line, color, shape and form. I try to remain free from my preconceived notions, although my desire to make art is often a reaction to what I see. In order to keep the work honest and fresh, I want to avoid falling back on my facility. I am grateful to have developed a certain level of skill and sensitivity, but I want to explore something new with it. It's a balancing act between control and accident, and the play of the material. I am not afraid of problems arising; on the contrary, I love getting lost in a painting and have to find my way out. Ideally, the end result is something of a surprise.

The subject matter of my work may seem varied. But to me, the work doesn't seem that diverse: it is all connected by a need to capture the essence, the energy within the structure. I love to draw and I love color. I go with whatever stirs that feeling.

Ultimately, I believe what makes my work meaningful is its ability to transmit something ineffable from artist to viewer, somewhere in the translation of feeling. I might start with the way a body feels as it stands in space, or the solidity of architecture against a landscape; or simply the play of one color against another, or the movement of a line as it goes form thick to thin. Add to that the particular qualities of the medium, be it oil, acrylics, charcoal, etc. It is about all of these things and at the same time, transcends them all. I suppose it comes down to the need to draw, the need to record, the need to make a mark, and finally, the need to communicate.

Background

My connection to art goes back as far as I can remember, but I became aware of how important it was to me when I took my first sculpture classes, in high school. I was thrilled by the anticipation of sinking my hands into the clay. This impulse was so great, I knew I was home. It has never left me. At Brandeis University, I majored in Art History, which I loved. I considered continuing my studies in Art History at the post -graduate level. But my experiences in my studio classes confirmed what I had already known: I had to make art. When I graduated Brandeis, I began studying at New York Studio School, which eventually led me to my MFA.

I began my formal training as a sculptor, receiving my MFA in Sculpture, from a joint program between the New York Studio School and Parsons School of Design/New School for Social Research. I began with clay figurative sculpture and then became entranced by abstract, welded metal pieces. During this period, I began painting with a small group of artists, under the tutelage of John Adams Griefen. I feel this was truly the beginning of my artistic development. The connection to this group of artists continues to shape my work. Over the years, I have been accepted to numerous professional workshops, including Triangle Artists’ Workshop (1986) and the Vermont Studio School (1990), in the US, and the Leighton Center (1989 and 1993) and Emma Lake (1994), in Canada

Initially I thought I would paint large, abstract paintings. I was deeply moved by many abstract works. It was not until the last few years that I have begun to paint in a non-representational mode. But I am still motivated by my need to draw from what I see. So, I tend to move back and forth. Representational or not, ultimately, it goes back to that need to make a mark.

For over ten years, I have been teaching drawing, painting and sculpture. I work with all ages and levels of experience. I have taught from my studio, as well as through different colleges and art institutions. As a teacher, I walk a fine line between knowing when to push and when to sit back, so as not to get in the way.

My work is represented in many private and corporate collections, worldwide, including The Reader’s Digest Association, Bnai Zion Haifa Medical Center, Sharecom, and many others. Locally, my work is featured prominently as part of the permanent collection of the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center. I have had numerous one-person and group exhibitions in NYC and New Jersey. For the past several years, I have also been painting murals for private clients and local institutions.

Selected Solo Exhibitions
2005 GJ Cloninger & Co, Morris Plains, NJ
2003 Musconetcong Gallery at Alba Vineyards, Finesville, NJ
2002 J Catania Gallery, Frenchtown, NJ
1994 Besterman & Agnifilo, NY, NY
1993 The Hudson Grill, NY, NY
1993 Gallery 39, Flemington, NJ
1992 Freylinghuysen Arboretum, Morristown, NJ

Selected Group Exhibitions
2007 Naked in New Hope, Sidetracks Gallery, New Hope, PA
2006 Riverbank Arts, Stockton, NJ
2006 Harrison Street Gallery, Frenchtown, NJ
2001 Wildflowers Gallery, Clinton NJ
2001 Beckoning Visions, New York Studio School, NY, NY
2001 Flemington Art Gallery, Flemington, NJ
2000 Eye on Flemington, Ink River Gallery, Flemington, NJ
1999 Water/City/Scape, BCUE Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
1997 N/Sight, NY, NY
1996, 1995, 1994 Landscape & Still Life Painters, Lorraine Kessler Gallery, Poughkeepsie, NY
1995, 1994 Hunterdon Art Museum, Clinton, NJ
1993, 1992 Triangle Artists' Exhibition, Lorraine Kessler Gallery, Poughkeepsie, NY
1991 Three Painters, Nuyorican Poets' Cafe, NY, NY

Selected Collections
The Reader's Digest Association, Inc., Pleasantville, NY
Golden Artists' Colors, Berlin, NY
Sharecom, Calgary, Canada.
Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center, Flemington, NJ
Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
The Leighton Foundation, Calgary, Canada.
Triangle Artists' Collection, New York, NY

Education
1983 Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass. BA, Art History
1985 Parsons School of Design/New School University, New York, NY MFA, Sculpture.
1984-2001 Painting workshop with John Adams Griefen.
1983 New York Studio School, New York, NY. Joint program with Parsons School of Design.
1994 Emma Lake Workshop, Saskatchewan, Canada.
1993 The Leighton Foundation Center, Calgary Canada.
1990 Vermont Studio school, Johnson City, VT.
1989 The Leighton Foundation Center, Calgary, Canada.
1986 Triangle Artists' Workshop, Pine Plains, NY.

Employment
Hunterdon Academy of the Arts, 2007-
Mural Painting, Draw the Line Muralists, 1999 - present.
Private and small group art classes, for children and adults, 1992 - present.
Raritan Valley Community College, Adj. Professor: Art Appreciation, 1996-1997.
duCret School of Art, Instructor: Sculpture, Principles of Design, Life Drawing. 1992-1995.
The Hunterdon Museum of Art, Instructor: Life Drawing, Art History, Figurative Painting, 1992 - 1995.
Hunterdon Adult Education, Instructor: Drawing, Painting, Watercolor. 1993-1996.
Lawrenceville School, Instructor: Sculpture Workshop for Advanced Placement Fine Arts program, 1994.
Stevens Institute of Technology, STEP-Upward Bound. Instructor, Painting and Drawing. 1992.

Community Service
Liberty Science Center, volunteer, 2007-
Hunterdon Hospice, volunteer, 2006-present
Flemington Jewish Community Center Sisterhood, Co-President, 2003-2005, Executive Board Member, 2002-present
FJCC Nursery School, President, 2000-2002, Board Member, 1998-2003