GREENSBORO – Nancy S. Riege of Greensboro is having a show of her pottery and paintings at the Greensboro Free Library during the month of July.
Painting Outside the Lines,” runs through the end of July at the Greensboro Free Library. Seen here are “Weaving My Life Story,” circular weaving; “Labyrinth” (below); “Catching the Wind,” (center); untitled (far right) and assorted pottery below.
photo by Paul Fixx
In her artist’s statement she writes, “I create with my hands through playing with clay, paint, fabric, wool, really anything that draws my attention. I am constantly listening to, and not always consciously, my inner and outer worlds.”
Most of Riege’s acrylic paintings are rather abstract, with the suggestion of trees, water, mountains, clouds, boats, buildings, the sun and the moon, while her smaller watercolors tend to be more straightforward. “Anticipation,” “Sunrise” and the two “Morning Light” works have a predominance of yellow that gives them really positive energy appropriate to the rising sun but also bringing to mind inner rebirth.
“Freedom,” “Early Morning Sail” and “Angels hovering “round #1” embody the thrill of seeing a boat under sail on the ocean, evoked also by the rhythm of multiple sails across the center of “Riding the Wind.”
“Shooting Stars,” “Night Light” and “Moonrise” communicate something of the mystery of the vast universe without and within us.
“Labyrinth,” “Horizon” and the three paintings entitled “Misty Morning” are small, peaceful watercolors that are quite engaging.
Quite different is “Letting Go,” which has real maple leaves attached to the canvas as well as painted ones in a collage of autumn color, and another work has a bouquet of actual small flowers in the center. Likewise “Birches” has a strong raised impasto texture in the paint on the trunks of the white birch trees in a rhythmic pattern across the horizontal format.
“Unique is Transformation,” the most abstract of all the works in the show, a large vertical rectangle with dominant purples, consisting of squarish and rounded forms in a well balanced composition of dynamic diagonals. Almost hidden in the center is a meaningful quotation from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu, “When I let go of who I am, I become what I might be.”
Riege is a very professional potter as well. She has on display many examples of her bowls, a variety of cups, mugs, plates and platters in well-proportioned shapes. The glazes are particularly beautiful in warm tones, ranging in attractive colors from blues to grays, purples, tans and greens. They would make a delightful addition to one’s everyday life.
David K. Rodgers
David K. Rodgers is a writer, mason and card carrying dilettante, who dabbles and babbles in art. He has lived in East Craftsbury for the past 40 years.
