“Last September, my husband and I traveled through the southwest and toured some of the National Parks. It was a feast for the eyes, and soul. The skies, canyons, rock formations, mountains, and valleys were breathtaking and bold inspiration for the original collection of paintings scheduled for this show.” Atlas’ show, originally scheduled for May 2020, was to have featured real and abstracted images of the Southwestern landscape.
“Since then I have been quarantined and painting at home,” Atlas explains. Still inspired by the beauty in nature, she’s continued abstracting the landscape both real and imagined, using acrylic paint on canvas or paper, with the addition of some printmaking techniques in the process. “This show includes paintings done before and during the quarantine. It’s a then-and-now look at my travels outward in the southwest, and then inward as I’ve learned to live with and create within the limitations of the pandemic.”
Atlas’ paintings, monotypes and collages are expressions of the patterns, shapes and movements found in nature and everyday life. She has been teaching watercolor painting and collage at Creative Arts Workshop, New Haven since 1998. Her work has been featured in numerous solo, group, invitational and juried shows in New England. Atlas has been a member of the City Gallery since 2008. Her work can be seen at the City Gallery website, Facebook at Judy Atlas, artist or Instagram #Judyatlasart.
The Landscape, Real and Imagined is free and open to the public, and runs September 5 - September 27. City Gallery is located at 994 State Street, New Haven, CT 06511. Modified gallery hours are Saturday and Sunday, 2PM - 4pm or by appointment. Number of visitors limited to 6 at a time. Masks must be worn. For further information please contact City Gallery, 203-782-2489, info@city-gallery.org, www.city-gallery.org.
Images:
All Lined Up, Acrylic on paper, 12 x 14, January 2020
Color Layers, Acrylic on Canvas, 24 x 20, July 2020
Southwest Memories 1, Acrylic on canvas, 40x30, November 2019