WAHLRABSHOW2004

Movement and Stillness

August 14th - August 27th, 2004

"During the Vermont week at the Vermont Studio Center this spring, I was able to have time away from a busy life to carefully reflect on why I am compelled to create the images I do. The process of building layers of watercolor is very time consuming and has taken me years to develop the technique to get the results I want - what’s it all about?

Movement in the form of a path or road is a theme that keeps recurring. Life at home is very busy with mothering, home, garden, teaching yoga and the complex world of creating and exhibiting artwork. Getting up in the quiet of the early morning to hike through the woods surrounding my home in Maple Corner or practicing a sequence of rigorous yoga postures releases tension and confusion. Walking the path is a reflection of moving through life - noticing, absorbing and connecting. Then there are the images of stillness - often where water and earth meet. I have found through the process of movement, I can be quiet. The integration of the complexity of each day brings focus, calm and clarity.

Over the years the layers have continued to grow and the images of places around my home as a reflection of my journey. The paintings take time to absorb and I have found with those that have taken this time, they notice life that we are all interconnected to but are sometimes unaware"

Susan Wahlrab