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FOR 5-4
CHRISTINE LAFUENTEâS CELESTIAL PAINTINGS AT SOMERVILLE MANNING GALLERY MAY 11
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GREENVILLE, DEL. â âChristine Lafuente: Celestial Light Paintingsâ will be on view in a solo exhibition at Somerville Manning Gallery May 11âJune 9. A reception with the artist will be Friday, May 11, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
Lafuenteâs recent paintings are a reflection of the artist and the inspiration that she derives from her environment. A graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Lafuente continues to work from a tradition of painting from life.
Though her paintings continue to be investigations of visual experience, she has recently been experimenting with a direct color approach as a means of composition. The result has been a seeming push toward abstraction whereby the literalness of the objects often coalesces into pure color notes.
For nearly two years (2005â06), Lafuente painted in a studio overlooking the East River. This past summer she moved to a new studio filled with light from north-light windows and skylights.
âThis celestial light has been a revelation in which to work,â she said. âThe traditional side-lit still life and reliance upon chiaroscuro as a means of description is no longer my immediate response. It is light-filled color notes that draw my attention. The reflective surfaces are alive with color and mystery.â
Lafuente had her first New York gallery exhibition in 2006. She had the honor to be selected by The Academy of Arts and Letters as one of only 35 artists to participate in its Invitational Exhibition of Visual this year.
The Somerville Manning Gallery is in Breckâs Mill, second floor, at 101 Stone Block Row. For information, www.somervillemanning.com or 302-652-0271.