ASTORIA ARTIST Charles Schweigert explores the concept of landscape within his new series of mixed media paintings titled Heavier Than Water/Lighter Than Air, presented at Riversea Gallery August 6th – August 30th. RiverSea Gallery will host First Night; a reception and artist’s talk to open the show, on August 6th from 6 – 8pm. This event is open to all, and is a great opportunity to engage with the artist while learning first-hand the inspiration behind the work as well as technique. Questions and interaction are heartily encouraged! As always, RiverSea Gallery will be participating in Second Saturday Artwalk, 5 – 8 pm, August 13th and hosting a second artist’s reception for Charles Schweigert. The artwork will remain on display through August 30th.
Charles Schweigert takes great inspiration from his surroundings, and living here on the North coast of Oregon, landscape is nearly impossible for most artists to ignore. Schweigert is widely known and respected for his expressive and elegant abstract work. Not being able to escape the real and literal drama of our surroundings, Schweigert has carefully crafted a series of mixed media paintings he calls abstract landscapes. Hints of horizon line where land meets sea, or perhaps a mere suggestion of a sailing vessel are all components that reveal themselves indirectly to the viewer. Schweigert presents his audience a fresh take on the power and grace of open sky and vast waterways and shows how sometimes the two are inseparable.
Considering the four elements, Schweigert eloquently depicts two of the most prominent to this area, Water and Air. From this concept, he began exploring the differences as well as the similarities between the two. Regarding this series of work he states, “How heavy is water? What are the deep currents that flow through us, moving us in ways we feel but can barely articulate? How light is air – the ungraspable air that can rip off roofs, topple trees, and sink ships? These are aspects of landscapes that go beyond what is seen. Ultimately, we are the answer to our question. Heavier than, lighter than, other than….what is hidden, what lies beneath, what adds heaviness to the water and lightness to the air…these are the real subjects in these paintings.â€
RiverSea Gallery, is located at 1160 Commercial Street in the heart of historic downtown Astoria.