‘Tension beneath the calm’

“Spring Fling 2’’ (oil, cold wax on wood), painted in 2020 by Dona Mara Friedman, who lives in tiny Rupert, Vt.

Ms. Friedman says:

“{My] recent work is influenced by my surroundings, as solitary time became all the more important in 2020. Living in a country setting surrounded by the wonder of nature I spend time watching the changing light, wind rustling the tree leaves and rain on plants that provide a full palette of colors. These careful observations become take off points for work that is process based while holding the intention of communicating an emotional response. The choosing of materials, marks, colors and images is directed by my interior dialogue and a continual desire to experiment.

“This quote from Richard Diebenkorn, a painter who inspires me, resonates with my findings.

“‘I came to mistrust my desire to explode the picture and super charge it in some way – what is more important is a feeling of strength in reserve – tension beneath calm.’
“The tension beneath the calm speaks clearly to me of my experience in modern day living. The paintings offer the viewer a possibility to be drawn in, taking another look and perhaps understanding this artist’s view of the complexities of modern life.
“This connection of artist to viewer completes my process.’’

Rupert is in the Taconic Range, whose high point, 3,840-foot Mt. Equinox, is in nearby Manchester. Vt.