Wilton Library welcomes Three Friends art exhibition June 6

Wilton Library recognizes a long-standing artistic relationship when the art exhibition, “Three Friends: Drawing, Collage, Painting,” opens with a reception on Friday, June 6, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.  The three artists are Deborah K. Flavin from New Canaan, Linda Nemergut from Bethel and Barbara Ripps from Bridgewater, CT.  Over the years, the artists have developed a mutual camaraderie that combines shared interests and support of each other’s artistic exploration of drawings, paintings and collages.  The exhibition will feature close to 70 works by the three artists.  The reception is open to the public. 

            Deborah Flavin’s work strikes a balance between design and pattern.  Her work is greatly influenced by her longtime exposure to the Orient, stemming from a five-year residence and study in Tokyo, Japan.  According to Ms. Flavin, “Eastern concepts intertwine with those of the West in my compositions.  Continuing with my exploration and development, current concentration focuses on mixed media, combining watercolor techniques with drawing, printmaking, and collage.” 

            Linda Nemergut works primarily in silverpoint, providing both a challenge that she enjoys and soft patina over time.  She recently noted, “I am fascinated by how things can be both simple and complex at the same time; twigs and grasses woven together to form a nest, yarn twisted and knotted to create lace, connections developed between scraps of paper and paint that become a collage. I love the give and take between the calm focused meditation of a silverpoint drawing and the excitement and experimentation of building a collage.”

            Barbara Ripps finds that her work demands “singularity of focus.”  She reflected, “I feel pulled in multiple directions by family, friends, pets and community.  The opportunity to pause in the busy day and paint is very precious and important to helping me understand life around me.”  She uses organic objects as important elements to her compositions.  Nature informs her work and her subject matter may also include patterned fabric because many of the patterns and textures are representative of those in nature.  Her work reflects a renewed energy after being on hiatus.  She is currently studying with Peter Seltzer on pastels and has studied with Koo Schadler for egg tempera.