Marvie Redmond | “Skyscapes”

Published: May 10, 2011

Works by Missoula artist Marvie Redmond, on display through May 29 at the Missoula Art Museum, explore the skyscapes unique to our area. The 11 featured oils, akin to the Impressionist paintings of the 1800s, are inspired by natural observation as Redmond mixes subtle compositions with sensitive color combinations.

Underlying the atmospheric paintings is a sophisticated and savvy sense of realism. Redmond is an artist who has been working consistently in the region, experimenting with a variety of mediums, and growing as a painter.

Some of the unique characteristics of the skyscapes are the absence of the horizon line, the limitation of the palette, and the direct inspirations from natural forms. She is extremely selective in her choice of compositions.

MAM assistant curator and preparator John Calsbeek chose these works from well over 100 paintings and drawings in her collection. “The paintings in this exhibition are compositionally refined, free of pretense, and steeped in a beautiful simplicity,” he says.

“I'm always looking at ways to communicate beauty and transcendence,” says Redmond of her work. “Painting skies and abstracts is one way to explore these realms. I would like viewers to feel something that slows them down, lowers blood pressure, releases and relaxes tension, stirs a remembrance of calm and beauty in their lives, similar to what you feel when you see a gorgeous sky: in short, art as meditation.”

Born in Orange, N.J., and raised in Dayton, Ohio, Redmond has been a longtime Missoula resident. She received her BA at Pitzer College in Claremont, Calif., and has shown her work, including watercolors, oils, and ceramics, in Missoula since 1976. This is her first solo exhibition at MAM; learn more at www.missoulaartmuseum.org.

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