"Intertwined." Exhibition by Gwen Rose with ceramist Eugene Stucky. The exhibition will be on display from April 5th to April 27th. Normal Gallery 12 hours are from Noon to 6 pm, Tuesday to Saturday.

(Gwen Rose) Artist Statement:
Nature and math are the main inspirations for my art. Studying and working with the patterns, colors, and shapes found in nature intrigues me. Patterns explored in math also interest me, including number patterns, tessellations, the Fibonacci series and fractals. I like to intertwine mathematical and natural patterns in my work.

Each work starts with an observational realistic drawing from nature. In nature, plants, animals, insects and landscapes are filled with visual patterns. Sometimes the patterns are quite complex, other times simple and bold. Using shapes and patterns from the realistic images, I rearrange and abstract them.

Brilliant colors in the natural world have always attracted me. There are high chroma colors in the sunrise and sunset, in the flowers of many plants, on the feathers of birds and the bodies of insects. We see warm colored flowers surrounded by cool colored leaves. A flower will show subtle variations of color and value as light plays on its surface. A sunset reflected in a lake is a luminous visual experience as light shimmers blindingly off the water. These views are some of the inspirations for my work.

I became interested in art in junior high when I had an inspiring art teacher. At that point I knew I would create art my entire life. I have been a practicing artist for many years, earning two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s degree. I’ve also had the good fortune to be married to an artist. Teaching art in public schools was my occupation for thirty years. Working daily on my art, I create artworks with colored pencil and with acrylic paint.