Landscape painting has a rich and deep history in Chinese culture. In Western art, it didn’t become a genre worthy of an artist’s sole attention until the 17th century. It is also important for the four artists in this exhibit: Barbara Friedman, Seth Ruggles Hiler, Lucy Kalian, and Carol Magnatta.
“The landscape is a system of sorts, one that suggests fragility and time, much like the human condition in a search for natural order. It is in this seeking that the physical is also psychological; the specificity of place is not as important as the feeling it evokes.” – Barbara Friedman.
When we step out into nature we are given the freedom to connect with a force that does not speak the language of scarcity. My paintings attempt to reflect the abundance of the fields and skies which put the world into perspective for me.” – Seth Ruggles Hiler.
“My immediate surroundings and the natural world are what move me to paint. And of all nature’s facets, color is the driving force. Sometimes, nature uses me as a conduit to capture its wonders on canvas and share them with the world.” – Carol Magnatta
“With the Wave paintings, I’m superficially celebrating the coastline, but beneath the surface, a deeper exploration of constant shifting. They are about yearning for things unknown and intangible, reveling in the sheer exuberance of experience, monitoring, in every state, the current position, and exploring the forces where land and water meet.” – Lucy Kalian
