ENCINITAS, Calif. - Oct. 19, 2019 - 'A great retrospective is one that makes a difference to our understanding of an artist's work. In one sense all visual art exhibitions are about looking back. Once work is done, it's installed in a gallery space and is literally in the artist's past, out of the artist's hands and beyond her/his control."And so when I was asked to mount a retrospective exhibition for the Encinitas Community Library I was a little surprised". Was I that old that I could be in the category of artists who qualify for a retrospective? Yet, as an artist/teacher, of course, it made a lot of sense to me that such a showing of my work could provide an excellent opportunity for art students to see, in person, how an artist has developed over years, versus through the typical slide lecture.
Many times over the years I've looked at a piece I've made and thought to myself, I can't remember doing that.' One remembers only traces of what happened. In that sense one main function of the art work is that it is an artifact of the process.
The more difficult task has been to consider what it's all been about. My own belief as an artist is that much of what I do (the art making part, that is) happens in a kind of trance, or mental zone. There is a notion that it is through the channel of a person that creativity flows and significant art making happens. In that regard, it is much like art choosing the person rather than the person choosing to be an artist. Indeed, I don't really remember ever making the decision to become a painter, I found myself being one.
Cheryl paints, teaches and advocates for the arts in her communities, bringing people together to appreciate the journey of art. She is an active member of numerous art guilds and organizations and reaches out to all ages, anyone that will listen, and almost always get a smile out of those that view her art.
Art Night Encinitas, where the public enjoys the artists in an evening of visual art as the galleries swing their doors open at the Encinitas civic and local art galleries Saturday, November 23, from 6:00-9:00 p.m The event celebrates the city's diverse visual art scene at participating locations and is free to the public. For more details about the Art Night Encinitas visit: http://encinitasca.gov/VisualArt
Visit Cheryls website at https://cherylehlersart.com or contact her directly at 760-519-1551
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Cheryl Ehlers
