Plaza exhibit displays local talent

Richard Jacques

An exhibition of still-life paintings by local artist Joyce Barrow is helping to bring some color to the walls of Great Neck Plaza Village Hall.

On display until Feb. 25, the “Explorations in Color” series of 12 acrylic paintings on canvas and paper is based on various abstract formations, which attempt to achieve a dynamic equilibrium through the rhythmic interplay of color and form.

Barrow’s paintings are based on animated, energized formations that were produced in studio from various unrelated objects such as crumpled paper, discarded pots, fabrics, shopping bags and old posters.

Usually, subject matter for still-lifes employ more visually recognizable objects arranged together and then reproduced as separate observed objects, but Barrow has used a different approach for this series.

“I try to bring the flat, two-dimensional surface of the canvas to life by using color to create form,” said Barrow. “They are all done to bring attention, so it bursts out of the canvas and comes to life.”

Originally from Rochester, Barrow began to experiment with color while living in Hawaii after completing her college undergraduate work.

With two children, she relocated back to New York and eventually settled in the Village of Great Neck where she has maintained an art studio ever since.

Between working full-time as a technical writer in Manhattan for 30 years and raising two children, Barrow has devoted much of her remaining time to the study of art.

She earned a master’s degree in art education from Columbia University Teacher’s College and was a student of well-known artists’s Sam Feinstein, Charles Seide and Joseph Feher.

Her body of work has been displayed throughout New York, including the Hopper House Art Center in Nyack and at Lincoln Center.

Now retired from writing, Barrow remains active as a painter.

A series of Barrow’s outdoor landscapes will be on display at the Hicksville Public Library in March.

She said one the best things about painting is that is totally occupying and one of the most interesting things she can think of doing.

“It’s a constant exploration, which is fun,” said Barrow. “To create something out of nothing and make it come to life. It’s always a great experiment and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.”

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