“It’s All Relative” Exhibit Opens at ArtSquare

“It’s All Relative” held its opening reception at on Friday, May 11. The exhibit features the work of family members Ria DeWit, Ryan Bongers and Marietje Chamberlain. DeWit is Bongers’ mother and she is also the sister-in-law to Chamberlain.

DeWit’s work features oil-paintings of women. She explains how, for many years, she painted only still life scenes, but changed direction several years ago and wanted to focus solely on women.

“I admire their strength and beauty and many women do not even realize how beautiful they are,” DeWit said.

DeWit, who is a resident of Leesburg, paints and teaches in her studio at home.

Bongers lives in Hamburg, Germany. He has lived in Europe for nearly 20 years, studying art and living in Italy and Holland, but finally settled in Germany for the past 12 years. Bongers paints with watercolors and acrylics. His style is self described as “quirky and light-hearted”.

Bongers said he works long days in his studio and enjoys the shared passion with his family members.

“It’s not so much a direct influence on our art, but we do support each other," Bongers said. "The common denominator helps you keep going and it is nice to talk to someone about our work."

Chamberlain lives in Washington, DC and has her studio in Alexandria, Va. at the Torpedo Factory. She is a pure landscape artist, painting very tranquil scenes.

Chamberlain began studying art in Holland at the Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam. She then became a fashion illustrator in Europe, working for magazines and newspapers. She married and moved to the U.S. and supported her family for many years until she found herself painting full-time again. She enjoys painting outdoors and finds it very relaxing to be with nature.

“I come into my own when I am outside and get the true sense of color," Chamberlain said. "You see everything in a range and then I focus on one design element. I then come back to my studio and transport it into a canvas.” 

"It's All Relative" will run through June 3. To learn more about the gallery visit ArtSquare online. The gallery is located at 12 Cardinal Park Drive, SE in Leesburg.