October 2 - 27, 2024
Opening Reception: Friday, October 4, 6-8 pm
Robin Levandov:
“Higher Ground”
Betsyann Duval:
“Myth and Memory:
A Retrospective”
Robin Levandov: “When Mountains Dance,” oil on canvas, 40” x 30”, 2023
Robin Levandov: “Higher Ground”
When I first began work on these paintings, my intention was to create a series of abstract works. Instead, mountainous landscapes magically appeared on my canvases. I was not surprised. I was living in a valley, surrounded on all sides by mountains. I don’t plan or consciously control what I paint but I develop the painting as it emerges. And I like the mystery, the unpredictability, of what emerges.
In this case, surely my love for the breathtaking beauty of the surrounding landscape unconsciously inspired this work. The size and shape of these majestic behemoths instill a sense of awe. I feel small and insignificant in the presence of these silent sentries, standing guard, where heaven meets earth, observing the world below.
For this series I did not paint from observation. I worked through invention and interpretation, relying on memory and photos taken while hiking. I experimented with different ways of applying and adjusting paint, using a brush or palette knife, even using my finger as a tool. Some of my thoughts and principles as I worked were:
the path of least resistance
slow and steady
small steps
go untethered
allow myself to wander
sit and allow the stillness
self-love
smell the aromas of the tress
I have always been drawn to the mountainous motif. For me, these represent life’s obstacles. When I hike, I motivate myself to continue the climb, saying I only have as far as the next stand of trees or just 100 more yards to the pile of rocks ahead. The symbolic challenge does not escape me. I am reminded of a piece of wisdom from Confucious, “the man who moves a mountain, begins by carrying stones.” My small achievements combine to accomplish a much larger goal.
For others, mountains can symbolize constancy, eternity, firmness and stillness. Ancient mythology regards mountains as divinely inspired, being the traditional residence of the Greek gods. Carl Jung believed mountains represent consciousness. As John Muir, one of our country’s most famous naturalists and conservationists, aptly stated: “You are not in the mountains. The mountains are in you.”
Betsyann Duval: “Rapids” (detail), oil on canvas, 36” x 36”
Betsyann Duval: “Myth and Memory:
A Retrospective”
My work explores the tipping point where abstraction and representation intersect, where balance falters and paradox, incongruity, and contradiction prevail: the point of stasis or of infinite possibility.
Common in all my work is my desire to pose questions that engage an audience either through a concept, humor, or direct interaction. By questioning issues such as the “male gaze,” the objectification of women, the societal fears and taboos that surround sexuality, and the impact of time, as well as other metaphysical puzzles, I invite viewers to see our world and culture from a different perspective.