Inner Landscapes
Paintings by Ruth Hunter
Opening Jan. 14, 4:00-8:00pm
On view through Jan. 30th
(c)2009 Recurring Dream by Ruth Hunter, oil and wax on canvas
Picture This Gallery
Opening Jan. 14, 4:00-8:00pm
along with Island Gallery Hop
& Island Writers Network signing
124 Arrow Road, Hilton Head SC
(843) 842-5299
By Anne Feldman
With “Inner Landscapes,” contemporary artist Ruth Hunter manages to brilliantly convey the connection between raw human emotions and the interplay of color and texture. Exploring the dreamlike world of the subconscious, Hunter brings that concept forward, using color as her catalyst, her work beautifully figurative. “I never work with an idea in mind, I just start to paint and let the color guide me. The stories develop as I work. It's very much a conversation between me and the painting,” she said.
Hunter's exhibition coincides with The Island Writers Network book signing at Picture This Gallery from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and the island's popular Gallery Hop, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 14th.
“The evening seemed perfectly suited for an opening reception of Inner Landscapes,” said Mira Scott of Picture This Gallery, adding, “Particularly Ruth's work, which is very engaging with viewers, full of mood and emotion, beautifully executed.” Inner Landscapes will be on on view through January 30th.
Working primarily in the mediums of oil and wax, Hunter will show 30 paintings, ranging from large canvases, to works on masonite, luane, and paper. “I love the translucent quality the wax gives the paint and the ability to build up layers easily. I can work continuously without stopping,” Hunter said.
In Recurring Dream, the reclining figure is on the verge of change, according to Hunter, who explains her work as intuitive. “The golden colors beneath are symbolic of change and rejuvenation, while she is in turquoise, in flux between two worlds. The red over it is a strong passionate color. It seems as though the reclining figure has been here before. The title just kept insisting, as I was painting it. Even my titling is intuitive in that sense,” Hunter said.
The Savannah artist finds her palette turning more toward the reds these days. Having studied fine art in Dallas, Texas, she began her early career as a portrait artist, later finding her painting heavily influenced by the figure.
Her work reflects the influences of colorists such as Mark Rothko's color field paintings, with the sense that viewers can walk right into them, along with Marc Chagall's dreamlike imagery, and Gustav Klimt's disproportion of the figure. Hunter uses the figure to tell a story, emotions by color, the concept dreamlike.
Inner Landscapes will be on view through January 30th at Picture This Gallery. For more information call (843) 842-5299.
picturethis@hargray.com
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A little note from Ruth....
2010 will be an exciting year for myself and my daughter, Nina, 13 and soon to be 14. We have been through a lot in the past couple of months..many life changes have taken place, and we are optimistic about this coming year! Now that Nina is being home schooled, we have decided to take a cross country trip, just her and I, camping, hiking, and enjoying each others company. Nina wants to go to Forks, Washington and go hiking...she has some vague memories of Seattle from when she was very small and would love to revisit the area. When she was little, between 18 months and 5 years, my husband and I would travel the country every summer in a camper or RV, street performing along the way. Unfortunately, for Nina, she doesn't remember a whole lot about those days except through photographs.
So, Nina and I have decided to fund our trip to Washington State from the sales of my paintings through Picture This Gallery!! I am grateful to Mira for providing me with such a wonderful opportunity to show my work in Hilton Head and giving me my first One Man Show in three years...and I owe her many, many thanks..what a wonderful, generous spirit she is!!
