When Robin Becker, Rebecca Catterall and Paula Fagan decided to have an art show together at Topanga Canyon Gallery, they did not anticipate the synergy of their collaborating.
Becker’s photo-painting collages reveal a recent visit to Venice, Italy and Catterall uses “found art hubcaps” as a template for a ceramics series on Car Culture. Fagan recently journeyed to Topanga via Belize via Kansas to create her physical and mental space for creating her abstract paintings saturated with color and texture.
Becker’s artwork combines her passion for architecture, photography and fibers/textiles. Her work has evolved into a large series of photo-painting collages. She states, “The photographs become paintings, the paintings become illusions suggesting rooms and passageways from fragments of memory that become shrines for contemplation. I go somewhere to be nowhere within these stories.”
os are diary journeys of the places I travel to,” Becker continues, “Looking for a path to discover. On the other side of my memory are dreams: A shadow glides into the light; a blurred image creates a sense of narrative. Reflections change the perception of time and space. The journey appears as an unreal moment standing still on the canvas.”Taking it one step further, I transferred images related to a car culture theme imparting my take on the use of the automobile. Many of the ceramic hubcaps are decorative Raku and designed to be hung on a wall, while the VW ceramic hubcaps make great functional tureens atop a thrown pedestal.
In additio
n, Catterall is introducing her “Journey Cups” with a daily reminder of the wisdom of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Life is a journey, not a destination” and other quotes.
After living, painting, and working in an orphanage in Belize, Fagan moved to Topanga. Her journey to art began in 2003 as she describes, “I gave myself permission to pick up a spatula and use it for something other than scraping the brownie bowl. I acquired a giant canvas; some acrylic paints and allowed a force from the center of my soul to guide that spatula in placing those colors and textures onto that canvas in a mysterious way.
What was the yellow brick road in Kansas paved with that led me to that first canvas? A full life of guiding my three wonderful children and teaching in my small Montessori school… children just unfold effortlessly. That was my formal training for painting. My recent 3 years living and painting in Belize began at an orphanage. This experience served as an inspiration for my current collection. My home and studio are now perched overlooking beautiful Topanga Canyon … for now.”
Each artist has also donated an original work of art for a raffle to benefit Liberty Children’s Home, Fagan’s orphanage in Belize. Tickets are available throughout the show and the winner (who does not need to be present) will be drawn during the artists’ talk and closing reception, Sunday, September 30 from 2-5 PM.
On view: Sept 5th – Sept 30th
Gallery hours are Wednesday to Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Sunday 11:00
a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
What: Closing reception, Journey
Where: Topanga Canyon Gallery, Pine Tree Circle, 120 N. Topanga Cyn Blvd., Topanga 90290
When: Sunday, Sept 30th 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Phone: 310 455-7909
Website: http://www.topangacanyongallery.com/
