Artist's Statement:

Much of my imagery is based on nature, as evidenced by suggestions of plants, stone, sky and water. I use aspects of the landscape as a sort of visual vocabulary to evoke an inner world of emotion, memory and contemplation. Purely abstract elements of line and color, intuitively placed, also enter these recent paintings. These reflect my interest in the interplay between abstraction and representation, as well as that between the observed world and the imagination.

 

Certain images from nature have particular associations – for example, for me, stone represents something eternal, complex and solid. However, as in poetry, meanings in my paintings are open ended and fluid. There is no one right way to view or interpret my work. Its ambiguities are intentional, and its subtleties reveal themselves over time.

 

The complex textures of the natural world are important in my work, both visually and in terms of meaning. To create texture, I layer the paint with a variety of tools, and scratch and gouge the surface to reveal bits of what is underneath. Techniques learned in my brief stint as a printmaker also help to create surface variations. Over time, the patina that results can resemble weathered rock or shell. In other paintings, transparent veils of color evoke more ephemeral aspects of nature, such as shining light, the surface of water, snow or layers of ice. Still other textures are more purely abstract, and grow out of the process of applying the paint.

 

Most of my paintings are made of individually painted panels that are then juxtaposed in various ways. This approach of using multiple panels provides contrast and formal structure to what is otherwise flowing, organic imagery. The process of arranging the panels is intuitive and open-ended, like the act of painting itself. I may start with an idea of a particular format, but always allow for change – moving panels around on my studio wall as I develop the work, and carefully considering the possibilities. In the end I have an arrangement that suggests to me a place, idea, or memory.

 

I started the ‘Column’ series a little over two years ago, and since that time a strong vertical format has featured in much of my work. This composition intrigues me because it so effectively removes landscape elements in their traditional horizontal format, and also works against the viewer’s tendency to ‘read’ an image from side to side. The abstract qualities of the work are enhanced as images to be more intuitively perceived. In addition, this format calls to mind architectural elements such as columns, doors, and towers, suggesting contrasts between the natural world and the structures of our human made surroundings.

 

 

 

EDUCATION

1985   MFA in Painting, Arizona State University

1982   BFA in Painting, University of Wisconsin

 

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2009             Darnell Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM

2008             Darnell Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM

2007             Polderland Gallery, Milwaukee, WI

2006             Circa Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

2005            University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley, Appleton, WI

2004            Circa Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

                   Within Nature, LE Phillips Public Library, Eau Claire, WI

2002            Circa Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

                   Backdoor Gallery, Regional Arts Center, Eau Claire, WI

2001            Interior Worlds, University of Minnesota, Morris, MN

1999            Recent Paintings, The Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI

1998            Recent Work, Sunroom Gallery, Madison, WI

1997            Beneath the Surface, Regional Arts Center, Eau Claire, WI

1994            Suzanne Kohn Gallery, Design Center, Minneapolis, MN

                   University of Wisconsin, Platteville, WI

1991            Recent Work, Regional Arts Center Gallery, Eau Claire, WI

 

TWO-PERSON and GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2010   Circa Gallery, Minneapolis, MN 

 

          Leenhoots Gallery, Milwaukee, WI

 

2009   Grace Chosy Gallery, Madison, WI

          Perlow-Stevens Gallery, Columbia, MO

2008   Interpreting the Abstract, Wilde Meyer Gallery, Tucson, AZ.

2007   Rivers; Eau Claire Public Library, Eau Claire. WI

          Views of the Valley, Chippewa Valley Museum, Eau Claire, WI

          Dog Days of Summer, Wilde Meyer Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ

2006   Visiting Abstraction, LE Phillips Public Library, Eau Claire, WI

          Midtown West Art Associates, New York, NY

          Visible Signs of Inner Grace, Unitarian Church, White Bear, MN

2003   Landscape: Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, WI

2002   Art Contemporani de Muntanya, Lleida, Spain

2000   Circa Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

2000- 2009 Summer Salon, Circa Gallery

2000-2008 Winter Salon, Circa Gallery

1999   Sharon Park Gallery, Menlo Park, CA

1998   Paine Art Center, Oshkosh, WI

1997   Neolandscape, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

          Vaguely Familiar, Galleria Mesa, Mesa, AZ

          Personal Journeys, Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI

          A Show of our Own, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, WI

1996   Wisconsin ArtsWest, LE Phillips Public Library, Eau Claire, WI                                            

          Northern National Competition, Rhinelander, WI

          Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, MN

1994    Inside Out, AGA Center for the Arts, Appleton, WI

1991   University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, WI

 

 

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION AND ACTIVITIES

 2009-present Teaching Oil and Wax Workshops in various locations nationwide

2009    CD art; Spectrum/David Crowell Ensemble, Innova Records

2008     Wisconsin Public Radio Interview, Spectrum West program

            Workshop; Rochester Art Supply, Rochester NY

            Workshop: Gallery 2611, Redwood City, CA

            Workshop: Peninsula School of Art, Fish Creek, WI

             Residency, Centre D’Art I Natura, Catalonia, Spain

2007      Artist talk, Darnell Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM

2006      Interview for WHWC, Wisconsin Public Radio, Spectrum West

             Exhibit curator; LE Phillips Public Library, Eau Claire, WI

2004            Wisconsin Arts Board Percent for Art, three purchase awards

2004            to present; Gallery Selection Committee, LE Phillips Public Library, Eau Claire, WI

2003            Featured Artist, www. portal wisconsin.org

2002            Interview for KNOW Minnesota Public Radio, Word of Mouth           

2001            Residency, Centre D’Art I Natura, Catalonia, Spain

                 Visiting artist lecture, University of Minnesota, Morris, MN

2000            Coverage of Circa Gallery exhibit, TV Ch. 9, Minneapolis, MN

1998            Wisconsin Arts Board Travel Grant, travel to Santa Fe, NM          

1997            Best of Show, Wisconsin ArtsWest, Phillips Library, Eau Claire, WI

1992            Juror student exhibition; artist lecture, University of Wisconsin, La Crosse; Juror, student exhibition,

                   University of Wisconsin, Menomonie, WI

1990            Ruth Chenven Foundation Grant

                   Cover artist, University of Wisconsin-Madison Business Institute            

1989            Wisconsin Arts Board Project Grant

1985-99       Intermittent adjunct faculty positions, University of Wisconsin

 

PUBLICATIONS

2009            Old Walls and Lost Paths: An Artist’s Residency in Catalonia, 

Rebecca Crowell

 

2008            Connections: Abstract Paintings 2006-2008 Rebecca Crowell

1995            New American Paintings, Midwest Edition

 

PUBLIC and CORPORATE COLLECTIONS*

Jayson Lander and Associates, West Hollywood, CA

Scottsdale Waterfront Residencies, Scottsdale, AZ

Centre D’Art I Natura, Farrera, Catalunya, Spain

Winona State University, Winona, MN

Ceridean Corporation, Minneapolis, MN

Tapemark Corporation, Minneapolis, MN

Fabyanske, Westra and Heart, Attorneys at Law, Minneapolis, MN           

University of Minnesota, Morris, MN

Tria Orthopedic Clinic, Minneapolis, MN

Robert Hill and Associates, Attorneys at Law, Minneapolis, MN

Williams, Venker and Sanders, Attorneys at Law, St. Louis, MO

Midwest Banking Center, St. Louis, MO

Reinsurance Group of America, St. Louis, MO

Solomon Brothers Developers, St. Louis, MO

Boone County Bank, Columbia, MO

Enterprise bank, Clayton, MO

Solebury School, New Hope, PA

Dollar General Corporate Headquarters, Nashville, TN

University of Wisconsin campuses:

     Eau Claire

     Madison

     Milwaukee

     teven’s Point

Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Luther Hospital, Eau Claire, WI

Northwoods, Inc., Eau Claire, WI

 

*also included in hundreds of private collections

 

	"Remembering Catulunya" Mixed Media on Panel 74" x 30" $7,100.
	"Catalan Wall" Mixed Media on Panel 68" x 24" $5,000.
	"Slate 2" Mixed Media on Panel 54" x 26" $3,900.
	"Entwined" Mixed Media on Panel 56" x 30" $5,200.
	"Copper" Mixed Media on Panel 42" x 36" $4,700.
	"Casa 2" Mixed Media on Panel 42" x 36" $4,700.