artist's statement
The creative urge has always been strong in me and my technical skills have begun to catch up with it. Abstraction has provided a way to connect to the emotions and forces that seem most primal and universal. Through the interplay of textures, colors and forms, I aim to provoke and communicate these forces to the viewer. One central theme that permeates my work is the exploration of chaos versus order. The tension between these two opposing forces and how they coexist in the world around us is fascinating. In my paintings, I seek to find harmony and balance within this dichotomy, creating visual narratives that navigate the delicate interplay between chance and choice. With this dynamic interplay of spontaneity versus intention, I embrace the unpredictable and the element of surprise, allowing the surprises to guide my process. The medium, acrylic and gypsum on wood, foster this process allowing for textures and forms
that "just happen" along the way.
biography
I am excited to be coming back to the world of exhibiting artists after an absence of showing my work. I studied art at Cal, Berkeley, and received a BA in art in 1972 and a MA in 1974. My husband, John Gillen, and I moved to New York where I showed my work at the Soho Center for Visual Arts amongst other places. Moving to Pittsburgh, I began using a mixture of acrylic and gypsum to get some unusual effects and textures. I also showed work in many galleries including the Concept Art Gallery in Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.
The highlight of this time in my career was when the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA, purchased my work for their permanent collection. John and I started working together when we returned to California from Pittsburgh. We showed this work at Jernigan Wicker Fine Arts in San Francisco and at Takada Gallery in San Francisco.
Since my partner’s death, I have been exploring another side of creativity: free form, less control, and the synergy of color and motion. I work until I find resolution and hope the painting moves the viewer.