St. Paul’s winter art show explores perception of place

Village Scene 1, by Barbara Eisenberg.

The Nicholson B. White Gallery at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2747 Fairmount Blvd., announces its winter show, Perception of Place: Pattern and Palette. The show opened with an artists’ reception on Friday, Dec. 2, with participating artists in attendance to greet guests and discuss their creative processes. The show runs through March 5.

Featured artists are Barbara Eisenberg (mixed media prints), Lari Jacobson (acrylic on canvas), Theresa Yondo (sculptural ceramics) and Gunter Schwegler (painting on silk).

Barbara Eisenberg creates abstract prints. Her art develops from an abiding interest in natural and imaginative forms, seeking simple bold shapes upon which to build. She places emphasis on spatial concepts and an intuitive response to these ideas. Her approach to each print includes incorporating as many technical and material variables as possible, without losing spontaneity or intensity. Eisenberg’s painting centers on multi-dimensional segments of structural forms she designs, which lend themselves readily to the layering of shapes and much color that can occur in making monotypes. She prefers the monotype process, where one unique print is hand printed or press pulled, because it allows her to be a painterly printmaker.

Lari Jacobson said, “Art has always been my passion. Even as a child, I sensed that art would always be a central influence upon my life. I truly enjoy the creative process. When I approach a project, I first consider the personal, social or historical context of the subject. I engage the client in this creative dialogue through research, sketches and conversation. I draw further inspiration from texture, color and pattern. My ultimate goal is always to achieve for the client exactly what they want while still challenging myself through the unique, creative process of each work.”

Theresa Yondo began working with clay in 1977. She explained, “Over the years [I developed] a distinct wax resist style of glaze work . . . expressing a playful contrast of color and pattern. [I use] dots and stripes and botanical themes such as flowers and pods [to] express surface pattern with the glaze. In recent years, [I have used] textural patterns impressed in clay, which is then molded by hand into colorful sculptural shapes, such as the work seen in this current show.”

Gunter Schwegler currently specializes in silk painting. He said, "My work is a celebration of life. I have my unique way of seeing the world, and through my art I attempt to share those visions. I try to express not just what I see, but what I feel, what is hidden just below the surface. The work becomes a dialogue, the painting telling me what to do next. Sometimes I have no idea how the finished work will look; other times I have it all planned clearly. Silk is an unforgiving medium—there is no opportunity to correct mistakes. It also has its surprises; only after the fixation step and final rinse do the colors appear in their true brilliance."

Everyone is welcome at the opening reception. The gallery is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The artists receive all proceeds from the sale of their work.

Mary Cushing

Mary Cushing is a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Read More on A & E News
Volume 9, Issue 12, Posted 12:11 PM, 11.30.2016