Art Access Show - Karen Rumora

Bexley, Ohio

Art Access Gallery

“Materials Matter”
New Works through September 10, 2022

This was a group show that I participated in at the Art Access Gallery in Bexley, Ohio.

A shout-out to Ann, Judy, Paula and Ricki ~ I was honored to hang on the same walls!

http://www.artaccessgallery.com/

Gallery Hours Wednesday – Saturday

September 5, 2022

“To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.”
~ Mary Oliver

My paintings showing in “Materials Matter” are new encaustic paintings utilizing collage and burnt surfaces as details throughout.

The process of melting the encaustic surface typically involves torching the surface in a controlled manner to create and image that moves gently and untamed. But I wanted to drive the energy of the torch into something more committed, so I reversed the additive process and literally burned the surface. These shapes are dark, reductive masses that possess strong, solemn moments.
The silent and singular shapes are the focal points of these pieces – a suggestion of the memories of those separated and left standing alone after natural disasters, war, grief and disease.

Using old phone books and maps, I assembled patterns and messages within the paintings. The white pages provided a lineal pattern of the surname “Wood” to build the textures of a forest, messages of real estate properties for sale create a horizon line of a scorned landscape, and torn maps and homemade papers suggest land masses and broken communities that have been overcome by divisiveness and natures furies.

From destruction emerged something new.

A big “thank you” to all those who attended the show!