Artist Statement
14 years ago, I was determined to switch from painting realism, to abstract paintings. I needed to express, “How it feels to be there”. All my painting, since then have been representations from experiencing nature. When we were children our dad took us on many hikes, we continue to honor that experience with my sisters yearly “mystery trips”. We find incredible experiences of nature to hike, forge, absorb and enjoy. We have experienced, sea caves, mountains, forest, creeks, and oceans. All of this just seeps into my bones to shake out later in an expressive painting. Sometimes when we’re experienced some thing that makes you feel very small, I’ll use small paint spots to represent us. For example, as we begin our hike like into the Grand Tetons during a sunrise, (see, “Sunrise Mountain”), you’ll six little dots in the lower right-hand corner in this painting representing me, and my 5 sisters as we hike into the massive mountains. That morning the Tetons were partly covered with white clouds. Then sunrise reflected onto the clouds and mountain, and there was also a double rainbow, it was powerful! I work with encounters I have had with nature, to display the same uplifting beauty and experiences it presents. My work has evolved over 30 years and most recently I have been trying to simplify my work through abstraction, Hopefully the viewer can reflect and relate with their own encounters.
Mary Ellen Strack
I am an artist and retired teacher. My work is in local art galleries,The Pharmacy Gallery & Art Space, SAA Collective Gallery, and Magdalena Gallery in the Carmel Design District in Indiana, private and public collections, I have participated in juried art fairs in the mid west and had my work procured for the Springfield Art Association, Springfield Illinois Civic Association, and the Illinois Teachers Association as purchase awards. I love teaching art and have instructing pre school through adult classes, though the last 26 years have had the privilege of teaching incredible students at Williamsville High School. The rest of my time is spent painting, gardening and golfing, running has been replaced with biking and stand up paddle boarding.
Please contact me if interested in purchases or commissions.
maryellenstrack1@gmail.com
