August Guest Artist - Valerie Kramer

"Our Lady of the Palms" by Val Kramer

The Maye River Gallery will host guest artist Valerie Kramer’s “Contemplation” an exhibit of collage works and paintings August 1 through August 31.  Kramer’s carefully constructed collages provide the viewer with vibrant color while her thoughtful compositions invite a closer contemplative look at the underlying theme of each piece. Kramer studied Fine Arts at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, earned an MFA at University of Cincinnati, followed by a 17-year tenure as professor of Fine Arts at the Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio.  Through the years she has focused on a number of reoccurring themes.  One is a series of portraits depicting a wise woman which moves away from ‘woman as the individual’ to ‘women’ as a whole. “She wears around her head what can be construed as either a halo or head dress which connotes wisdom and honor as the essence of who she is.  The play of hands below the head, where a garment should be, is meant to represent how she is defined by what she does, her accomplishments, service, and of a life of doing,” said Kramer in describing her collage, “Our Lady of the Palms.” “The highest compliment I can receive is for someone to describe my work as ‘compelling.” I consider my work a success if it simply makes the viewer want to stop and look at it.”  An opening reception will take place on Thursday, August 8 from 3:00 until 6:00 p.m.  The event is free and open to the public.