New Feature Exhibition in October September 13 2019
STACEY FLETCHER
Our Endeavors
On View: October 5 - 26, 2019
Opening Reception: Saturday, October 5, 4-7 PM
Artists Talk: Friday, October 11, 11 AM
About the Exhibition
For Stacey Fletcher’s inaugural solo exhibition at Arts on Douglas, she will be presenting a vibrant new body of work that comes alive with explosions of color and energized mark making.
Fletcher describes herself as a cathartic painter and her objective is to create work that “evokes emotions, questions background, and explores the journey of one’s self.” In her Artist Statement, she explains that she is strongly influenced by abstract expressionism, naive mark making and intuitive gestures. While her work appears abstract on the surface, it is deeply driven by symbolism, often incorporating layered metaphors and personal narratives concealed within the chaotic, energetic marks. There are also references to childhood imagery disguised among the colorful layers.
Fletcher’s work seems to take on a spontaneous order, however she points out that “it is not just an impulsive approach to gestural mark making, but the love of material and process that trumps the imagery.” Her enthusiasm for process and her unhampered experimentation with materials comes through in this new work, with each piece invoking a playful sense of whimsy, even as she seeks to work out deeper themes about life’s goals and journeys while exploring tensions between what is and is not seen on the surface.
Fletcher explains that, overall, this work is “a process of layering; layering thoughts, memories, and ideas with sensual materials, which motivate the paintings. My obsession to make a surplus of marks creates form that becomes an abstraction of the idea.” While her work is deeply personal, its abstract nature leaves the door open to multiple interpretations and connections, allowing viewers to come to their own conclusions and appreciate this dynamic work in their own ways.
About the Artist
Stacey Fletcher was born in South Georgia, and currently resides in Ormond Beach, FL. She is a Professor of Studio Arts at Daytona State College, where she instructs in the Painting and Drawing department. Fletcher received a MFA in Painting & Drawing from the University of Tennessee, and a BFA in Painting & Drawing from Valdosta State University. Fletcher’s professional art experience has included exhibitions of her work in the United States and abroad, as well as participation in an International Painting Residency in Chelm Poland. Fletcher has been honored with the opportunity to serve as an exhibition juror on many occasions, and her own work is now part of public and private art collections. She has also received numerous awards, including having her work published in a juried selection of International Visual Artists in Studio Visit Magazine.
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