MAY 2 - MAY 16, 2024
"BEAUTY IN THE COMMON PLACE"
A COLLECTION OF MIXED MEDIA ART BY
SUSAN HARRIS
OPENING DAY: THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2024 5:30- 8:00PM
ARTIST'S TALK 6:00PM
ABOUT THIS EXHIBIT
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This compilation of a series of mixed media art by Susan Harris comprises four distinct themes. Within each theme, several pieces are interconnected by their celebration of the beauty found in everyday life: Beauty in the Common Place.
UPCOMING EXHIBIT
JOIN US FOR THE OPENING TO CELEBRATE AND ENJOY LIGHT REFRESHMENTS*
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT NO CHARGE | ALL WELCOME
SERIES 1: MY VIEW
The still life category of painting has been my love for many years. Finding color, rendering fabric and paper, attempting to portray light and shadow has forever challenged me as an artist. I will always feel like I am home when painting a still life from everyday items that are in front of me. — SH
SERIES 2: ENTWINED
Being outside and gardening is one of my favorite things. Sometimes, while tending to the plants, my mind wanders, and I find myself imagining that I am tiny and the plants are like giants with beautiful colors and delicious berries. This series of art came from those daydreams and painting, cutting, and applying the shapes to supporting canvas. — SH
SERIES 3: ABOVE
A bird’s-eye view, aerial view or as this series is titled “Above”, is a viewpoint that is of continuing interest to me. Places or landscapes from above can appear distorted, distanced or more beautiful than ground level perspectives. I strive to give the viewer a starting point, not an exact image of a particular place or experience but a launch to imagine and dream what is or could be. A view from above allows the viewer to relate the image to a personal experience, or memory and, perhaps, change their point of view. —SH
SERIES 4: IF WE WERE MADE FROM CLOTH
This series of paintings, "If We Were Made From Cloth," began with inspiration from Alexandra Morrissette's show, "Wanting/Wailing," which was installed in the Barton College Art Gallery in 2024. Ms. Morrissette says, "Existing in a state of constant balance, this series of work explores what it means for armor, in relation to body, to encompass tenderness."
In Ms. Morrissette’s installation, materials were cut, stuffed, and stitched, being mended, signifying your heart's capacity for healing, which is a statement of resilience by the artist. Living life for anyone can include heart bruising/breaking moments, but I find it so important to learn how to mend ourselves and continue to move forward. — SH
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
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My artistic journey is driven by a deep appreciation for the world around me, which finds expression in my paintings spanning still life, nature, and cityscapes. Through series-based exploration, I allow themes to emerge and evolve, embracing shifts and changes, towards abstraction, minimalism, or intricate detail.
At the heart of my work lies an unwavering pursuit of beauty—a quest to uncover the extraordinary in the ordinary. Whether capturing the play of light on a still life, the majesty of nature's serenity, or the understated charm of everyday scenes, I am continually inspired by the inherent beauty that surrounds us in the common place. - Susan Harris, 2024
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ABOUT THE ARTIST
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Susan Harris olds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education of the Hearing Impaired from Atlantic Christian College, along with an Associate's Degree in Interior Design. She has enjoyed an extensive and illustrious career, having created and owned Susan Harris Interior Designs for serval decades, co-owned of ReBath of NC, and H A Stoneworks. With a background rooted in education, Harris dedicated numerous years to teaching, including tenure as an educator at the Eastern NC School for the Deaf. Throughout her journey, art has remained a cornerstone of her existence, culminating in her recent pursuit of painting, and these days she can often be found making art in her newly established studio nestled in the countryside near Elm City, NC.
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With a career which has been marked by prolific creativity, which is evidenced by her participation in numerous juried shows and exhibitions - as well as her engagement in workshops at local, national, and international levels - her artistic endeavors have garnered recognition. Harris's works are featured in collections spanning both local and national realms, notably including the Barton-Graves House at Barton College.
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