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| Varno in her studio. |
The images that make up the Bright Wings
show come from three separate series. They all share a strong representational
component, a brilliant palate, and thematic links that are figuratively or
literally uplifting.
Each
canvas is a rebus of unlikely juxtapositions. Birds join bones and blooms,
vegetation and Victorian wallpapers, not as still life, but more like tapestry.
Varno’s canvases vibrate with entrances and exits, and half-hidden objects. Although the color palate ranges widely, the
works share an inherent luminosity, and a depth borne of finely layered
transparency. Varno’s brushwork is as meticulous, crisp and unforgiving as a
medical illustrator. Yet the precision of the images does not lead to obvious interpretation.
In the dense canvases a true sense of nuance and mystery emerges.
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| The Falcon House 2 x 4' x 5' Acrylic and mixed media on canvas. |
Varno writes: “I am
interested in grappling with our delicate humanity. The process of creating these paintings is an
acknowledgment of these life cycles and it is in the spirit of renewal that I
find the source material for the artwork I create.”
Warner K.
Varno is an artist in transition, settling into a part time residential relationship with local
artist and legend James Watts, and looking for new living space that somehow bridges the
gap between Colorado and here. Her more recent works have engaged that search
for home palpably. The emergent imagery of the nest and the house have come
strongly into her recent work, which is hardlysurprising as Varno also
approaches motherhood, with the expected birth of her first child in October.
Please join us on August 3rd as we open Bright Wings. -Wes
