THE BATHERS paintings by Marjorie Price

Kline Gallery 
April 3 - 25 

“I grew up in Evanston, Illinois, one of the suburbs of Chicago along the shores of Lake Michigan. I'm told that I learned to swim as a tot —  and my passion for the water and swimming has lasted all my life”

A artist all her life, her paintings have moved through a variety of styles: landscape, seascape and abstract. The “Bathers” paintings are among the most personal. Price explains: “they express how a body feels and moves in another element, that sense of freedom and abandon one feels when released from the pull of gravity.”

The Bathers Series began in the 1980's while competing in a synchronized swim meet. She began sketching the swimmers as they practiced their routines and was carried away with the visual beauty of the spectacle, inspired by the constantly shifting colors and patterns the figures formed in the water. From those sketches emerged the Bathers Series. 

Artist and Author Marjorie Price to Speak

Marjorie’s recent memoir, A Gift From Brittany, (Gotham Books, 2008, Paperback edition, 2009) tells about the years she lived in France and was married to a volatile French artist. There, she had the extraordinary experience of becoming a part of an ancient village in Brittany and of forging a friendship with an elderly, illiterate peasant woman who changed forever the way she saw the world. In connection with the Frederick Reads event, Marjorie will be presenting her book at 2:00 PM on April 3, just prior to the opening of her exhibition.  She will answer questions and discuss the challenges and advantages of having the dual career of painter and writer.

Marjorie has worked as a graphic designer, taught painting to children and adults, has written short stories and essays and has published several children's art and education books. She continues to live and work in New York City.

Photo taken in Central Park NYC by Gil Rondan

Alexandra Zealand in the New Gallery January 9

Transformations 

Saturday, January 9 – March 13

Side Gallery on the second floor

Reception: 3-5PM February 6, 2010

Alexandra Zealand is a sculptor living and working in Northern Virginia. Originally trained in theatre design, she made the transition to more intimate spaces, and received an MFA in Sculpture from Pratt Institute, in 2003.

Using what many might consider “ kitchen trash” i.e. used coffee filters, grape stem clusters, orange peels, her creations range from intimate delicate sculptures to wall sized installations. Zealand says, ”I am inspired by the transformative process of massing, which causes 'gross trash' objects to become beautiful, dynamic sculpture when gathered together. Through this transformation, I also explore our eternal quest to stop - or at least slow down - the ephemeral, fundamental nature of the organic: to die”.

Although the assemblage of found objects is a time-honored tradition in fine art, as the viewer approaches one of Zealand’s sculptures--hanging from the ceiling or displayed on a pedestal, there is moment of recognition, both delightful and transformative.