Artist Vivian Bower provides a profound look at nature
Shannon Witter '11
Issue date: 11/7/07 Section: Arts & Culture
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Characterized by a sound awareness of emotion and a pervading sense of appreciation for beauty, Bower challenges humankind to gaze upon the world with a different perspective.
The opening of Bower's exhibit was met with enthusiasm from across the surrounding community. The artist delivered an intimate showing of her works to a room of art admirers of all ages. Eloquent and gracious in her presentation, Bower also answered questions about her work, thus forming an even deeper connection between the individual and the painting.
Bower's most recognizable collection, the "Horizon Series," is inspired by the stunning view that her Provincetown dwelling affords. The collection consists of seventeen paintings depicting an identical view of sea and sky, the horizon line remaining constant between all.
Varying in color and technique, the set of paintings represents the spontaneity of natural beauty, which Bower says "change[s] all the time, moment -to moment."
Following "Horizons," Bower created "Trees," an arrangement that models her bittersweet move from the coast to the "darker experience" of a woodland area.
As compared to "Horizons," these works are more unpredictable and abstract, yet are still characterized by the same attention to nature, particularly its interaction with light. In these paintings, Bower avails the use of light, contrast and similar colors to express a sense of movement and harmony.
One piece from "Trees" called "Moonglaze" is particularly interesting. From a distance, this work appears to be a single shade of blue daubed on a canvas. However, with a few steps closer, the intricacies of the masterpiece magically appear: the shadows, the reflections, the images, as if nature were speaking directly to the gazer.
Residing next to this piece is "Barely Seen," a canvas of warm reds that contrasts beautifully with its neighbor. These two paintings brilliantly evince that nature assumes various forms and encompasses a wide spectrum of emotional appeal.
Bower's median of choice is pastel, which, she explains, is similar to the world in that it is "a very fragile material…harmonious…all just dust." She also conveyed a fascination with the way in which an audience reacts to her work. "I am not interested in making a picture of something," she explains, "I take from experience and make my own, [hoping the audience feels] my hand my presence."
"Drawing in Nature" will be available for viewing, along with another exhibition entitled "Abstract, Representational and Hybrid," in the Beard/Weil Galleries in Watson Fine Arts from now until December 8. Stop by and check them out anytime between 12:30 and 4:30, Monday-Friday.
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