‘Rooted in Intuition’ Exhibition Begins Jan. 21 at Pitt-Brad

BRADFORD, Pa. – Paintings and sculptures depicting sacred, spiritual and alchemical revelations will be showcased starting Friday, Jan. 21, at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.

The “Rooted in Intuition” exhibition by Diane Marie Kramer will run through Friday, Feb. 25, in the KOA Art Gallery of Blaisdell Hall. The free exhibition is part of the university’s Spectrum Series.

Kramer, of Michigan, will give a gallery talk beginning at noon in the Webb/Bradford Forest Rehearsal Hall (Room 138) of Blaisdell Hall. An open reception will be held after in the KOA Speer Electronics Lobby.

The exhibition showcases 27 pieces of mixed-media sculptures and paintings. Kramer uses clay, wood, bronze, brass, copper and stainless steel in her sculptures. Her paintings are primarily on canvas, paper, board and wood.

In her artist’s statement, Kramer said, “The materials in each piece play a significant role in the successful conclusion of the work, regardless of whether it is sculpture or painting. My fascination with color, textures, and shapes, and the alchemical process that occurs in the melding of materials, feeling, and form over time have manifested into the completed works which are all ‘rooted in intuition.’”

Kong Ho, associate professor of art and director of the interdisciplinary arts and the art programs at Pitt-Bradford, said, “Her mixed-media work reveals her talent in understanding and manipulating of different art materials, and her intuitive working process also makes her exhibition stand out among others.”

“She was given the opportunity to show her work at our university gallery mainly because of her outstanding mixed-media work, which transcends her disability.” Kramer has fibromyalgia, which causes pain in joints, muscles, tendons and soft tissues.

Kramer received a bachelor of fine arts degree and master of arts degree with an emphasis in clay and painting at California State University, Sacramento, and a master of fine arts degree in sculpture in San Francisco, where she was an apprentice of world-renowned sculptor Steven Destabler.

Kramer has taught at colleges, art centers and after-school programs. She also became a school’s visual artist and instructor, teaching the cognitively, physically, emotionally and behaviorally impaired. She also is a teaching artist with VSA arts of Michigan.

Her masterpieces have been featured in San Francisco; Sacramento, Calif.; Stockton, Calif.; St. Louis; Hungary; Ireland; Germany; and Michigan. In 2004, Kramer also took part in the International Fine Arts Festival in Washington, D.C., where she displayed two sculptures and led a workshop.

The KOA Art Gallery is open 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays. It is closed Saturdays and Sundays.

More information about the Spectrum Series is available by contacting Patty Colosimo, assistant director of arts programming, at (814) 362-5155.