Neighbor News
Watchung Arts Center presents "Drawing/Painting Layers: Artworks by Steven Rushefsky
Winner of New Art Group's Solo Show Competition
“Drawing/Painting Layers”, an exhibit opening May3 at the Watchung Arts Center, features the work of artist Steven Rushefsky, one of the winners of the New Art Groups recent Solo Show Competition. An opening reception will be held on May 3 from 1-4 PM. The exhibit in the Arts Center’s Lower Gallery will be on display through May 30.
Steven Rushefsky orchestrates a give-and-take between drawing and painting, as he populates his canvases with figures, interiors, gardens and architecture. Inspired by the formalism of the Italian Renaissance, and the visual delight of Edgar Degas and Helen Frankenthaler, he brings an at-times studious, at-times playful and always modern perspective to what are traditionally tightly drawn subjects.
Rushefsky begins each work by laying pencil to paper. As he applies the first layers of thin paint, it mixes with the graphite tones, adding depth to the color. He continues drawing in pencil on top of the paint, which gradually gets thicker and more opaque. This layering of pencil and paint continues throughout the process, culminating in paintings with rough-hewn features contrasted with staccato detail.
He graduated from Binghamton University with a degree in Studio Art, with a focus on drawing.
He received an Award of Merit in “Arizona Aqueous” (2014), and the Curator’s Third Place award in the “NJC: Works on Paper” exhibit (2013). His work has appeared as part of group exhibitions in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, Oregon, Arizona, California and Puerto Rico. His ceramic work has been published in Ceramics Monthly, and his editorial illustrations have been published in Tikkun Magazine. You can enjoy additional examples of his work at www.stevenru.com
Also in May, in its Heinz W. Otto Gallery, the Watchung Arts Center will feature the Contemporary Art Groups 9th Annual Members’ Show, featuring the works of 43 artists.
The Watchung Arts Center is located on the circle at 18 Stirling Road, Watchung, NJ. The Gallery is open Tues.-Fri. noon-5pm and Sat. 10:00am-3:00pm. For more information go to watchungarts.org or call 908 753 0190.
Works shown: Blue Room”, ”Green/Gray Room”, ”Paris Doorway”
