One woman Show in Newport Beach at the Bayside. show runs from Feb 3 through May 3 Artist statement from show Wide Awake and Dreaming We see color and shape when we first look at an abstract painting. Our subconscious reacts by seeking to identify and categorize. Color stimulates the deepest regions of our minds. We are hard wired to respond to vivid reds, ethereal blues, and serene greens because these colors give us clues about the nature of our environment. Shape also calls upon our primal instincts. Our mind races to make sense of the forms we see around us. Our very survival depends upon this ability. Is it food? Is it a mate? Is it shelter? Is it a snake or a coiled hose? Our subconscious mind then introduces these notions to our conscious mind. Memories, opinions, education, superstitions, and all the other things that influence intellect are integrated. Finally, an interpretation is formed. As you can imagine, reactions to abstract works are as varied as the people viewing them. They truly are the inkblot tests of the art world. Abstract painting awakens something in me that is both primitive and cerebral. As I paint, I try to let my subconscious mind guide me. I let go and allow the dream take over. This forces my conscious mind into the role of spectator. It can be an unpredictable and amazing journey. What emerges is purely the offspring of my core being. Almost without fail, I have a very strong notion of what the work means to me. The titles of my paintings give suggestions regarding where my thoughts were as I painted. I do believe however, that each viewer should interpret the work through his or her own process. I hope you enjoy the show.