Janet Black’s solo exhibition “Synthesis: New Works in Collage” at the Buenaventura Galley will show from September 14 to October 9, 2010. Opening Reception is Saturday, September 18 from 4-7pm. First Fridays Ventura Gallery Crawl on Friday October 1, 5 – 8pm.

Look once and you see a composition of colors and textures harmoniously creating a figure. Look twice and notice the medium of numerous papers from a handful of origins, torn with grace and skill, and reconstructed into values of light and shadow. Step in closer, nose to nose with the artwork and see the words of lyrics, psalms, poems and philosophies that elevate your awareness of peace, calm, introspection. Black’s layers of collage are merged with impressive painterly quality. Her united bits and pieces form her “big picture”.
Black studied the arts in Wisconsin where she grew up. Motherhood and part time jobs kept her creative tendencies on the back burner, but never snuffed. When her sons moved on to college, she found time to discover the talented faculty and students at nearby Ventura College. Inspired by the mentoring of Carlisle Cooper, Bob Moskowitz, and Sylvia Torres, Black soon found collage to be her medium of choice, combining the theories of painting class with a love of textures and printed papers.

Now, with a renovated back room in the house, Black has a working studio space to create as well as a sanctuary away from the “increasingly complicated world”. The artist’s images are intended to show that “the mind needs a resting place.” Black’s faces are subjects who look at you with a spirit of worldly knowing. It is said the “eyes are the window to the soul” and when we meet the red tailed hawk or Kuan Yin, Black introduces us as equals. Their eyes of paper share a message. Black is a teacher showing us, in colorful metaphor, how all complicated parts can become beautifully unified when you step back, appreciate and enjoy.

This is her second solo show with Buenaventura Art Association. Black is featured artist for the City of Ventura’s Harvest ArtWalk on Oct. 16-17, 2010.

The Buenaventura Gallery is located at 700 E. Santa Clara St, Ventura, CA 93001. Hours are Tues thru Friday from 12 – 5 pm and Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. For questions or an appointment during other hours, please call (805) 648-1235 or visit www.buenaventuragallery.org.