“Abyss”
Paintings & Works on Paper
By Rebecca Rutstein
October 30- November 24, 2007
Opening Reception: First Friday, November 2nd 6:00-8:30pm
Gallery Hours: Tuesday- Saturday 10:00am- 6:00pm
Philadelphia, PA - The Bridgette Mayer Gallery is pleased to present its fourth solo exhibition of Philadelphia artist Rebecca Rutstein. “Abyss” will run from October 30th – November 24th, 2007 with an opening reception Friday, November 2nd from 6:00-8:30 p.m. The exhibition will feature a series of new paintings that stem from her continued interest in geology, maps and the changing natural world.
Rutstein’s new work explores the deep ocean floor. Using ship tracking data, topographic maps, and other materials as inspiration, she takes the viewer into the mysteries that lie beneath the ocean's surface. For Rutstein, the geologic forces at work along the sea bottom are metaphors for the instability in our own lives and relationships. Employing a variety of painting styles, she interweaves layers of organic and invented structures into imaginary spaces that shift in scale and perspectives.
The works created for this show emerged from Rutstein’s completion of a residency on the Big Island of Hawaii in 2005. The geology of the island and its surrounding area was a strong influence for her exploration of the ocean floor as seen in her recent work. In addition to the paintings, there will be an installation of related works on paper on view in the gallery vault room.
Rebecca Rutstein received her M.F.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997 and her B.F.A. from Cornell University in 1993. The artist has completed several residencies including the Red Cinder Artist Colony (Na'alehu, Hawaii), the Banff Centre for the Arts (Banff, Canada) and the Vermont Studio Center. She has been a visiting artist at many institutions including Moore College of Art and Design, Bucks County Community College, and Swarthmore College. Rutstein was awarded a Pew Fellowship in the Arts (2004), a Bridgette Mayer Travel Grant (2005), a Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Grant (2006), and a Pew Professional Development Grant (2007). She has had numerous exhibitions including solo shows at the Fleisher Art Memorial (Challenge Exhibition), List Gallery, Swarthmore College, and Bridgette Mayer Gallery, New Hope.
“Abyss” will run through November 24th, 2007. The artist will be present at the opening reception November, 2nd from 6:00-8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 – 6:00 p.m., other days by appointment. For additional information, including a catalogue, please contact Bridgette Mayer, 215.413.8893 Fax 215.413.2283
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