What we see when we gaze at the landscape depends upon our point of view. Two local painters with very different approaches to capturing scenery showcase their work at Nuances of Landscape: Paintings by Mary Porterfield and Nina Weiss, opening on Thursday, December 6, at Oakton’s Koehnline Museum of Art, 1600 East Golf Road, Des Plaines.
Porterfield’s works question what makes an act heroic in the midst of circumstances beyond our control – symbolized in her pieces by natural phenomena such as geysers, storm clouds, and volcanoes. Her paintings are comprised of hundreds of small figures. Some depict religious individuals and saints whose brave acts involved giving unconditionally. Others represent the struggle to balance such ideals with the need to nurture oneself.
Inspired by the open spaces and far-off horizons of the Midwest, Weiss creates powerful, expressionistic paintings. Going beyond the traditional “green landscape,” she presents a heightened vision of the natural world, using colors that are intense, lush, and dramatic. Weiss’ paintings capture her travels through the “everyday” vistas of the Midwest and beyond – teasing out the complexity of nature and creating layers of contrast, line, and form.
On opening night, the public is invited to a free gala reception from 5 – 8 p.m. The exhibition runs through Friday, January 25, 2013.
The Koehnline Museum is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Saturday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
For more details, call (847) 635-2633, or visit www.oakton.edu/museum.
