Images of Oregon
A Duo Exhibit By Maida & John Cummings
Exhibition Dates: July 2nd - August 29th, 2024 in the Central Gallery
Free Public Artist Reception: August 2nd, 5pm - 7pm
If you are interested in purchasing art from any exhibits, please email Galleries@ChehalemCulturalCenter.org or call 503-487-6883
This exhibition features the artwork of Maida and John Cummings, an artist couple dwelling locally. Much of Maida’s printmaking features creatures or the natural world, and her handling of imagery is playful and direct. John’s pastel work feels idyllic and dreamy, often featuring stunning summery blue skies and rolling hills. Selected works for this exhibit are in conversation around their shared love of the environment and Oregon’s natural beauty.
A Note From the Artists: Maida and John both agree they have been married for a long time. Their conversations often revolve around art, in its many aspects. Whether it’s about artists of the past, or technical questions of composition and design. In their studios they will often ask the other to critique a current art project, and are grateful for the input because the suggestions enhance the other’s very different art media. Another pursuit they enjoy sharing is collecting art supplies that fill their cupboard shelves in their studios for some distant future projects.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Maida Cummings: In the early 1990s I started taking art classes at Oregon College of Art and Craft. It was so much fun, and I’ve been making art ever since. I enjoy working in a variety of media including printmaking, watercolor painting, and found object assemblage. With printmaking I find I can use my love of drawing to experiment with the age-old techniques of Intaglio and woodcut, particularly the Japanese Moku Hanga style. To select a subject I prefer to be outdoors sketching and taking photos, as nature and its beauty has become a favorite theme in my work.
John Cummings: I have been painting exclusively in soft pastel for many years. I favor the simple immediacy of pastel, where no mixing is needed on the palette unlike oil paint and acrylics. As an artist I find inspiration in the exquisite beauty of nature that surrounds us, even the mundane. The task is to reach into one’s skill set and to discover some humble expression of that beauty. On good weather days I find myself packing up the easel, supplies, a cup of coffee, and heading out in search of inspiration. I often end up in the farm fields of Willamette Valley, around St. Paul, or taking day trips over to the Oregon coast. My paintings start out when something catches my eye and I begin a series of small thumbnail sketches for composition. Good design is fundamental, and established way before a colorful soft pastel stick is applied to the pastel paper. Mostly I enjoy being outdoors, sitting in a lawn chair under my white umbrella, looking for inspiration within the landscape, and welcoming the curious people who happen by.