Donna N. Cusano at Hardcastle Gallery

Director's Statement

Hardcastle Gallery has had the pleasure of watching Donna Cusano's pastels evolve over the last seven years. Ms. Cusano is a gifted, passionate artist whose time has come to be noticed. Collectors of her originals from past exhibitions should be excited and energized by this new series of work. Plein-air painting is taken to a new level as Donna continues to abstract her forms through color and texture. Join us in November to experience "Further Afield".

- Allison Weer

Artist's Statement

Like many people, since turning 40 I have begun to notice that I am going through both physical and intellectual changes. With this insight comes the further realization that change happens in all facets of life, whether we are ready for it or not. The inevitability of change, or more importantly, its support and cultivation is the underlying theme of this new work. What is becoming apparent to me is that it is much better to be flexible and accepting of change rather than be resistant and oblivious to its sometimes elusive but ever-present possibilities.

This collection is by far my most experimental and focuses on the search for the simplest means of depicting my subjects, which are landscape-based metaphors for these changes happening in my life. Although the title of this show suggests a physical wandering or traveling to places as yet not explored, these images represent a psychological and emotional journey over a personal, life landscape.

I imbue my work with the feeling of change or movement by utilizing a few different methods. One is to work with gestures, or strokes and lines that have dynamic, directional quality. Another method is creating transitions, that is, elements or combinations of elements within the composition that lead the eye with ease from one place to another. Some examples of creating transitions include using a series of lines that cut across a shape or area, softening edges, making a change in how light or dark an area, line, or shape is, or making a change in the color of an area, line, or shape. Additionally, I play with the rhythmic quality of any or all of these elements, composing melodies and harmonies of lines, shapes, textures, and colors that aspire to work together in a unified structure.




			preview the show
©2006 Hardcastle Gallery, Centreville , Delaware U SA