Branches
An art exhibit by Susan Nash and Sara Nash
Susan Nash
My
fascination with branches began in the fall of 1992 during a quiet walk
in the woods. I stumbled upon a field of unusually shaped branches that
looked like tangled tumbleweeds. Stunned and delighted, I carried one
home, and for nearly two years it hung on my wall, pleasing my eyes and
teasing my imagination. After several trips back, a roomful of branches,
and a determination to play, I decided to paint them. As a self-taught
artist my work gives me space to explore and experiment; a place where
there are no rules. Each piece evolves naturally as I respond to imagination
and follow its voice. Whole worlds open up as I dance with the muse, letting
self fall away. Through this process I find my most challenging lessons,
my deepest joys and my truest self.
Sara Nash
Drawing
is a lovely place to go without bringing pressure or judgement to the
creative process. From the first piece I made three years ago to the most
recent, I have managed to keep anxious expectations and self-critical
revisions at bay. While these may have a useful purpose in the world of
academia or "Realistic" fine art, my method is spontaneous and
unplanned. Indeed, I might have ceased drawing no sooner than I began
were it not for the pleasurable release of letting go into the unknown,
into that space beyond words where thoughts sometimes stop and a greater
voice reveals itself silently there. I hope that you will bring your own
experiences and understanding to this work. For me, I see a reflection
of my struggle to know and integrate the various parts of myself, and
to let that greater voice inform ever-widening circles in my art and ultimately
in the whole of my life.
Susan
and Sara's art was on display in the Center for Women's Studies and Gender
Research, 3324 Turlington Hall, from January 9th to April 29th, 2003.
