Green Shoe 2 x 6, shardwork, Susan Ludwig

FRAGMENTS
Susan Davitti Darling, Collage
Susan Ludwig, shardwork
Opens Saturday, August 6, 2005

From mixing, collecting, and gathering comes the work of Susan Ludwig and Susan Darling. Lynden Gallery will present the recent fragmentations of these two unique local artists. Opening reception will be held on Saturday August 6 from 1 – 4 pm with Darling and Ludwig demonstrating their artistic process. Both the reception and demonstrations are free and open to the public. The exhibition will continue through the end of August.

SUSAN DARLING brings an exploratory and poetic approach to collage work. Darling describes her method, “I let something catch my eye…very seldom do I have an actual direction in mind. I let the materials guide me.” With an adventurous, spiritual, and patterned style, Darling composes her collage creating a work that appeals to both the viewer's aesthetics and inner emotions. Most recently, Susan has been focusing on the effects of rhythm in her work by implementing color and value.

Academically, Susan Darling studied at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island , Pennsylvania School of Art and Design, and Millersville University . She has received an associate's degree as well as a BA in Commercial Art. Darling has exhibited locally since 1994 with exhibitions including the Susquehanna Art Museum , Penn State Harrisburg, and Philadelphia Museum of Art. Throughout her career as an artist, Susan has been awarded various prizes and accolades including an award in the Art Association of Harrisburg's Gardens and Greenery show and Judges' Choice Award in the Landis Woods Outdoor Art Show. Artistically, her influences include Paul Klee and Wasily Kandinsky. Through her use of connecting shapes and colors, the motives of these two artists are evident in Darling's work.

SUSAN LUDWIG, in a similar spirit, creates shard art through feverish collecting, reusing, and designing. By taking everyday discarded objects, Ludwig arranges exciting, colorful, and surprising work. When asked what drives her work, Ludwig responded, “My love of shard art is a passion born of necessity. Something must be done with all this “stuff”. Be it broken plates or rusty bottle caps, I love trying to incorporate random objects into something that pleases me.”

Susan Ludwig is a graduate from Edinboro State Teachers College (now Edinboro University ), earning a degree in art education. After her teaching career, Ludwig began painting before turning to her well known “shard art”. She has exhibited over the years in venues such as Lancaster Galleries West, now Lynden Gallery, Elizabethtown , PA , La Roche College in Pittsburgh , PA , and the Warren Public Library, Warren , Pa. Ludwig's main artistic influence is Matisse as well as the “art from trash” philosophy from Philadelphian artist Issah Zagars. Susan strongly believes that from unwanted, wasted items beautiful art can flourish.

Lynden Gallery is located at 117 South Market Street in Elizabethtown , in the original, refurbished Fire Hall. The gallery is handicap accessible and offers convenient parking. Open Tuesday thru Friday 9:00 to 6:00 and Saturday 9:00 to 5:00, the gallery also offers evening hours by appointment. For more information about Lynden Gallery or Eva Bender, call the gallery at 717.367.9236 or refer to the website at www.lyndengallery.com .