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MIRIAM GILMAN
24 Shuman Circle
Newton, MA 02459
617 969-6623
miriamgilman@verizon.net
www.gilmangallery.com
Fire Opals
Brobdingnagian Lily Pads
Night Bloomers
River View
Nature provides inspiration for my landscape paintings and monotypes. My interest in water lilies and koi originated during a period of meditation practice where my safe place was a lily pond. After visiting Musee Marmaton and L‚Orangerie in Paris, France, where I spent hours immersed in the art of Claude Monet, I began to create the peacefulness of a calm pond on which colorful water lilies float and in which colorful Japanese koi fish swim. My technique involves painting on a plexiglass plate with oil paint. I use a small hand-held press or an etching press to transfer the image to printing paper. I very often re-ink the plate to print a second image. Then the fun begins as I apply woodcut, collage and lithographic Gum Arabic transfers to the prints. My real joy comes from the process of art where I loose consciousness with my surroundings when my hand and eye become one with the work.
Miriam Gilman's work will be exhibited at University Place Gallery, 124 Mt. Auburn Street, Cambridge (across from the Harvard Square Post Office). The exhibit is sponsored by the Cambridge Art Association and runs from October 1 - November 9, 2005. The artist's reception is Thursday, October 6 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. |
"Revels I", woodcut monotype
By Miriam Gilman
ESTHER IN BIBLE AND MIDRASH
showing at the Striar Jewish Community Center, 455 Central Street, Stoughton, MA from March 4-31, 2005. RECEPTION: Sunday, March 6, 2-4 pm, artist's talk at 3 pm. Call 781-341-2016 for directions.
Continuing with my theme of strong Biblical women, I am visualizing themes related to Esther, a model for Jews in the Diaspora. I am currently studying in MEAH, 100 hours of classroom study at the Hebrew College in Newton, MA.
Inspiration: My inspiration came from reading Megilat Esther the story of Queen Esther, a jewish girl taken against her will into King Ahasuerusharem in ancient Persia about 400 B.C.E. Other ideas were the result of reading Jewish texts called Midrashimthe writings of the Rabbis intended to fill in the blanks when the Bible provides us with scant information. Ideas about Esther business acumen came from What Queen Esther Knew: Strategies from a Biblical Sage by Connie Glaser and Barbara Smalley.
Themes I am exploring are the masks behind which women must hide their feelings, the noisemakers that drown out women voices, fatedrawing of lots to determine day of annihilation of Jews, charity in form of gift-giving on the holiday of Purim, assimilation, ancient Persia and God grace.
Technique: The exhibit will show woodcut relief monoprints and monotypes with chin colle and/or collage. An artist accordion book will include some of the themes above as well.
Support: I am grateful to my various teachersLynn Heller and Rivka Ulmer for pointing me to the ancient midrash texts and new views of Esther as CEO of a large corporation.
Thank you
Miriam Gilman |
Brobdingnagian Koi 36 x31 Monotype POR
Yellowstone River View 37.5 x 25.5 POR
| Memories, such as the china cups, statuettes and vases my mother used to collect, form the core of the subjects in my still-life paintings. Another favorite subject is one of my addictionsshoes. And finally, nature provides inspiration for my landscape paintings and monotypes.In December, 1995, I received a kidney transplant that enabled me to travel once again. My inspiration for the water lily monotypes came from a trip to Paris where I visited Musee Marmottan and Orangerie, spending hours immersed in the art of Claude Monet. I create the peacefulness of a calm pond on which colorful water lilies float and record the graceful movements of Japanese Koi fish. Some of my monotypes are created using an etching press while others are hand-rubbed with a barren, spoon or wads of wet paper towels. |
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