Flower Power
An Exhibition of Paintings by Rhonda Paisley
3-13 May 2008
This will be Rhonda Paisleys fifth exhibition at
the Emer Gallery since her first show in 1990. This collection of 29
paintings, 1 silk piece and 5 pieces of glass all depicting the same
subject matter of flowers, marks a further development. Rhonda is relatively unique in her use of numerous media. The term 'mixed' media is always true in her work. Clear, crisp, bright and spring-like, flowers might be struggling with our changing climate, but spring has certainly sprung with 'Flower Power'.
Some have compared Rhonda's naïve style with that of much sought after English artist, Fred Yates, a compliment to any painter. Michael Flanagan continues to enjoy Rhonda's work and insists it has developed and improved with every exhibition. Rhonda herself stands over her own experience of painting as originally stated for her 1992 exhibition:-
I often think as I paint that people who I will never meet or never talk to will look at this painting and I feel strongly that what it will communicate will be good. Not just good in the technical sense, but good in the sense that it will be an experience that will enrich and provoke thought. I want the viewer to be touched. I want them to love or hate, to like or detest, to smile or frown, to be quietened or to be stirred by what they see. Above all, I don't want the viewer to be un-touched, apathetic, to walk away with no feelings at all about what they see.
A single subject matter reflects more mellow times for us all. However, those surprised at the lack of political content in Flower Power, have not really looked!