“The Water Seekers” is a solo exhibition of abstract paintings by Teresa Stanley, a painter and studio arts professor who has taught at Humboldt State University since 1991. This collection draws inspiration from the subject of water, its symbolism, and the power it wields over our collective consciousness.
The paintings in this exhibition were conceived during the record rainfall of the El Niño storms of last winter and spring, preceded by a long and severe drought in California. Stanley worked in her studio with the daily sound and climate of steady rainfall all around her. She began to imagine a narrative, “where the search for water was paramount. The search was not only necessary for survival, it was also important because water represented an affirmation of some sort of truth.”
“all my pretty ones” is a solo exhibition of abstract paintings by Kathleen Mahoney-Cobb, who was raised in Northern California and currently resides in Providence, Rhode Island.
Mahoney-Cobb’s painting practice is informed by her understanding of the history of abstraction and surrealism in fine art. Her paintings focus on the relationships of space, color and texture. She explores these combinations while unveiling an emotive tone in the painting. She describes her mark making as a meditative practice that reveals the trajectory of her decision-making in the creation of each piece. As the viewer follows the movements of her brush, her abstractions begin to create a sense of time, space and movement within the confines of each canvas, inviting an individual response from each viewer.
Both exhibits are produced by students enrolled in the Museum and Gallery Practices Program at Humboldt State University. These students participate in the planning and production of exhibitions at HSU Third Street Gallery. The gallery provides real-life opportunities for the students to develop their gallery and museum skills, which in turn provides them with experience that will help them to enter the job market. Many students who have participated in the program have gone on to careers in museums and galleries throughout the nation.
A reception for the artist will be held at HSU Third Street Gallery Saturday, October 7, from 6 to 9 p.m. during Eureka’s monthly Arts Alive event. The Third Street Gallery is located at 416 Third Street, Eureka and is open daily from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call 707.443.6363 or visit the gallery website at www.humboldt.edu/third.