The Gothic Times

Issue date: 11/25/09 Section: Art

Media Credit: NJCU.edu Frosty Morning

When I entered the main lobby of Hepburn Hall, I took the nearest staircase to the third floor in this gothic inspired building. Once I arrived, I walked to the left until I saw The Harold Lemmerman Gallery. This simple rectangular shaped room has white walls and a clean wooden floor.

Attending the reception of Sister Joan Steans was both exciting and inspiring to me, especially since I am an art major.

Sister Joan Steans' watercolor "Scholarship Benefit Exhibition" was such an extraordinary reception and experience since most of her artwork used water color as its main medium.

The exhibition featured approximately 100 works of Sister Steans many painted with the use of watercolor on rough paper. Her nature-inspired paintings are very soothing, yet melancholy because of the juxtaposition of dark color and pervasive light.

She is trying to depict nature's appearance during the fall, winter, and spring seasons by experimenting with watercolor. This experimentation can be seen in her painting, "Thanksgiving in Sparrowbrush" (1998, Watercolor, 11 X 10). The trees appear lifeless, symbolizing the onset of the fall season while in the distance, the sun in quietly setting below the horizon. She uses a fair orange color with slightly gray clouds.

Painting a landscape is like playing and listening to the sweet harmony of music. The moving melodies pour into your ears and the soothing sounds wrap themselves around you.

The simplicity of Steans' paintings put me at ease. She delivers a fresh perspective when it comes to painting with watercolor and every stroke exemplifies her expressiveness and closeness with nature.

This exhibition reminded me of the value and beauty of nature. Her art gives new insight to my art and how I approach it. I would recommend this show to anyone who loves painting and the valuable inspiration that nature brings into our lives.

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