Organic Explorations | Heide Follin and Ellen Schiffman

Artwork by Heide Follin and Ellen Schiffman. On display August 9 to September 23, 2018.  For inquiries, please contact Heide at HeideFollin@gmail.com or visit heidefollin.com.  For Ellen, please contact her at ellenschiffman@optonline.net or visit ellenschiffmanfiber.com.

CURATOR STATEMENT

Let the adventure begin. Before us are two artists inspired by their observation of organic and symmetrical forms in nature and their travels for discovery. As if with a map and compass, the art of putting paint to paper or assigning fiber to a matrix is an exploration of the medium and technique. The artist must find the way to communicate their discoveries.

Heidi applies her paints as a construction of color, abstract, yet quite literal. Ellen gathers her materials into white and neutral dimensional assemblies. The power of layered colors compliments the sense of textured white forms. The results are similar in their exuberance, but not the same.

Look closely for the connectivity of patterns and textures. As explorers of their medium, both artists have enabled the viewer to react to natural phenomena in a different way. Enjoy the journey.

Curators: Annamari Mikkola and Gregg Welz

ARTIST STATEMENTS

Heide Follin Inspired by nature, I weave together my work with lyricism and abstraction. Color and actions describing natural phenomenon are put down as just paint and somehow something magical happens among the mark making and layering. As I embrace the unexpected, lines, x forms, curves and triangles found in the environment coalesce as a life force in my work.

Close ups of botanical specimens as well as expansive landscape engage me, including subject matter as diverse as Himalayan prayer flags and Connecticut gardens. Playing with viscosity, flat areas contrasting shiny, vibrant color singing against adjacent hues, textures and meandering lines, I uncover patterns and detail, transforming it into something else.

Ellen Schiffman Nature is my muse I do not attempt to replicate it. I try to capture its essence along with the sense of wonder it evokes. I use the images, sensations, textures, movement and moods of the natural world as a springboard and inspiration for my creations In recent years I have turned more towards working with whites and neutrals. The work has become much more sculptural and more contemplative.

There is no symmetry. My forms are organic – often without clear boundaries. Serendipity and surprise play significant roles in all my creations. A hole, a ridge, a swerving line, a crack appears where none was planned, adding interest and depth to the work just as they do in life. I have no firm outcome in mind when I start a piece - rather I embark on an intuitive, process oriented journey. For me the work becomes a metaphor for the unexpected occurrences in life, and both the challenges we face and the growth we experience from embracing that which life brings
Beyond fiber, I look to everyday, often humble, items in creating my work. Think Q-tips, makeup pads, ace bandages, rusted items and items from nature. I use both traditional techniques and my own experimental techniques to transform common materials.