Taking Flight: A Retrospective of Sculpted Linen Works
Janet L. Bohman
February 3-21, 2015
Reception Thursday February 5, 6-8PM
Chelsea NY: Viridian Artists is pleased to present a retrospective of sculpted linen works by Janet L. Bohman who died in 2014. The exhibit will occur February 3rd, continuing until February 21. A founding artist of Viridian, Ms Bohman’s painted aerodynamic reliefs of linen over wood armatures, seamlessly integrate the disciplines of painting and sculpture. There will be a reception on Thursday February 5th, 6-8PM honoring this incredible Viridian Artist.
Ms. Bohman began painting at the age of five. In the late 1970’s, her work moved away from two dimensional paintings into small scale painted reliefs in both linen and folded paper. Since then, the evolution has continued resulting in large scale painted reliefs and works in the round.
Throughout the period, her philosophy that art should be beautiful and should contribute to the emotional well being and aspirations of the viewer has prevailed. Her strong color patterns and soaring imagery are intended to provide the viewer with a sense of serenity in a hectic world.
Bohman was fascinated with birds in flight and the mechanics of flying, pursuingthis passion through her incredibly constructed sculptural paintings until her death. Her small sculpted linen reliefs in the “Flexing” series capture the gestures of birds as they struggle to achieve flight and arise from the surface of the wall. In her larger sculpted linen pieces, flight has been achieved, the shapes are more intricate and deeper while the attachment to the wall is far more tenuous illusion.
Ms Bohman was a life-long resident of Brooklyn, New York. Her formal education includes a BFA from Pratt Institute and an MA from New York University. She has participated in over one hundred solo and group exhibitions including 16 solo exhibitions and 7 group shows in Japan.
The artist often said: “I have always been inspired by birds flying freely. While I have lived in New York City (with its infamous pigeons), for my entire life, my home in Brooklyn offers a slice of nature rarely found in an urban environment. The windows of my studio provide a panoramic view of Prospect Park and its lake unsullied by buildings and the other trappings of city life.
“Prospect Park with its dense central woodlands and 60 acre lake is home to over 200 species of native and migratory birds… As it gets colder, sea gulls take refuge from the harshness of the sea shore and gather on the partially frozen lake. Given some unknown source of alarm, hundreds take to flight in unison. Flexing their wings in broad strokes then gliding from one end of the lake to the other. Between the birds and colorful sunsets, I have visions of beauty which I like to translate for others to enjoy in this less than peaceful world.”
Her work is in the collections of Chase Manhattan, Dean Witter Reynolds, Hyatt Hotels, Harvey Baskin as well as many private collections. Examples of the works in this show as well as other work by Ms Bohman may be found on the Internet at http://viridianartists.com/artists/janet-l-bohman/