"Painting is meant to be deceptive. Realism and representation convey reality, so recreating what i already see doesn't interest me. It is more satisfying to tinker with reality and explore " an imperfect, off-center, asymmetrical and disproportionate outcome.”
b. 1953. Trained in Secessionist, Dada, Jugendstil , Abstract Expressionism and Impressionism in music, aRt and German/Austrian literature at Modeschule Hetzendorf in Vienna (1972-73) and Linzer Akademie fur Bildende Kuns, Linz (1971) and with Josef Schützenhöfer (Austrian), 1971-1982. Also studied with Charles Kello and Norman Goodwin, Norfolk, VA (2008- 2012).
Growing up in the 50's and 60’s, aNna respected authority, didn’t question parents, teachers, or her Christian faith. Then came the 70's and she joined U.S. Navy: an institution most dependent upon subordination, obedience and hierarchy. She learned to bury the impulse to speak out against minor (and some major) offenses, discrimination, harassment and even assault.
With generous in-service education benefits, aNna earned B.S. and M.A. Ed. degrees while on active duty and gradually took back responsibility for having been a bit of a Pollyanna. She left the service in 2000 and used G.I. Bill benefits to earn a second undergraduate (B.F.A.) degree at Old Dominion University, Norfolk (2010). aNna’s canvases veered to the abstract as she fought to reclaim her “voice,” taking back what she had stifled for 24 years. Her self-inspired therapy included exploring color as a substitute for normal verbal interactions that had been difficult since joining the service. Gender and rank had no authority anymore and gradually, the freedom of self-expression, in-spite of being introverted, turned in to bold and violent clashes of colors. The #MeToo movement unleashed all of it. Predominant shades of yellow (gaiety, joy), green (peacefulness), Franz Kline blue (deep spirituality) and neutral whites (solitude) helped aNna renew an expressiveness and overcome the silent, submissive, unquestioning of …bulliness.
“i am still a bit of a mess but perhaps the tension provides enough angst to produce some real masterpieces. i use color to represent things other than things and learned to loosen from the disciplined rigors of conformity and academic training. i am proud of the notch i made in the struggle for women integration -- no -- elevation within the armed forces and in the aRts.”
Some few paintings are complete in an afternoon; most develop after months (or years) of walking away from the original, as if to keep it in denial. If the first “draft” is incomplete (it almost always is...) additional layers usually add complexity, texture and interest, patterned after a lifetime (since age 24) of overcoming a “Complaint of Wrongs” as it is known in the military. The violent colors of her earlier work have neutralized to more monochromatic, nuanced calm.
“i have used the discipline, focus and energy of my previous occupation to good use in creating large, sweeping canvas Fields of Color.” i am uplifted:
“Every one to whom much is given, much will be required.” - Luke 12:48
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