An August Day: An Exhibition of Work by Susan Swartz

At the forefront of the gallery, the joy of coasting across deep ocean water is depicted in Summer Bliss, a 4x6’ painting chosen for a recent collaboration with company, Doyle Sails. The creative process utilized modern science and technology to turn the sails and hull of a racing yacht into a unique canvas for Swartz’s creation.

In a recent article published by Seahorse magazine, Swartz states, “The open ocean is by far my most compelling artistic partner to date and the sailboat my most unique medium.” Swartz’s attentive eye to the details of her environment ring true as both the original painting, Summer Bliss, and the collaborative execution of this project capture the essence of experiencing the open ocean.  

In an eruption of zealous color and soft pastels, an asymmetrical array of small scaled paintings spans the front of the gallery. In combining Swartz’s series such as Emerging Bouquet, Blooming, and Petals & Pollen, the patterns of striations, petal drops, and tones build relationships among each other. Swartz explores earthy pigments and crackling textures in these works, implicative of wild botanicals and the vibrant hues displayed in setting suns.

Central in the exhibition is Evolution of Nature 24, a painting from Swartz’s most ambitious series to date. Connecting the journey of personal health with a passion to celebrate nature’s healing capabilities, she integrates dried botanical elements into the surfaces of thick acrylic. In Evolution of Nature 24, Swartz interweaves natural elements with petal-like drops of acrylic, likening the pigments of red, yellow, and blue to wild flowers found when wandering amongst aspen forests or mountain lakes.  

Newly released black and white giclée prints are suspended in front of a raw concrete wall.  Adjacent, Evolution of Nature 17 completes the warm, organic ambiance with a select palette of whites, grays, and ethereal yellows and oranges.

Susan's largest and most recent works from the landmark Evolution of Nature series hang side-by-side.  A grand duo in their full three-dimensional glory, they call on themes of organic abundance and vitality.

Six 20x20" paintings neighbor in a linear grid, allowing the movement between the pieces to carry the viewer's eye through a tranquil circuit. The meditative experience continues with Turquoise Horizon’s serene strength and the graceful minimalism observed in a small grouping of Nature Revisited. 

The experience of An August Day is made complete with Mineral Shimmer 2, a mesmerizing piece with a soft yet glimmering quality that conveys tantalizing pearlescence.

In all of Swartz's work, rich tones and brilliant color are a focus when expressing her care and vision for preserving nature. She builds on the narrative that the changing seasons should be cherished, celebrated, and protected. Swartz's creative execution in An August Day coincides with the words of poet, Mary Oliver: 

"August of another summer, and once again, I am drinking the sun, and the lilies again are spread across the water."