Christine Destrempes
Artist Statement My work explores the personality of water. I am drawn to water's capacity for transformation as well as its reflective stillness, seamless adaptability, and proclivity to follow the path of least resistance. Water is the perfect embodiment of permanence and impermanence. By observing it, there is much to learn about navigating life.My monotypes are done on steel plates using mixed etching inks, then rolled by hand through an etching press. Some of the images are built with several – sometimes as many as 20 – different impressions transferred to one sheet of paper. Each is a unique print, although sometimes I use the ghosted image left on the plate after the final pull to create variations on a theme. Mostly I use imported, hand made paper with various textures and rich colors. I've never liked using glass in displaying prints because it separates the richness of the paper and ink color from the viewer. After many trials and experiments, I discovered that applying beeswax to the prints enhanced their color, protected the work, and made them virtually indestructible. As an alternative, sometimes the monotypes are varnished. First they are dry mounted onto the panel, then 2 coats of varnish are applied. Although they are not as impenetrable as the waxed prints, they are most stable.
When painting I work both in oil with oil stick as well as acrylic. The oil sticks are seductive in their creaminess and rich color. But sometimes acrylics are more appropriate because their water solubility allows a fume-less, abandoning experimentation with drips and splashes. Regardless of the medium, I apply many layers of paint to create the dimensional effect of seeing color behind color.
My intention is to raise awareness of the global issues around clean water, though readily available to us, in the developing world today more than a billion people suffer from the effects of clean water shortage. Through my exploration and interpretation of water's myriad characteristics and sublime beauty, I hope not only to engender an appreciation for, but also to promote preservation of one of our most precious natural resources.
Biography solo exhibitions
2006 & 2004 Anderson-Soule Gallery, Concord, NH
2003 Sulloway & Hollis, Concord, NH
selected group exhibitions
2007 Redmond Bennett Gallery, Left Bank Group Annual Exhibition, Dublin, NH
2007 Alexandria Museum of Art 20th September Competition, Alexandria, LA
2007, 2002 & 1998 Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery Biennial Competition, Keene, NH
2006 - 2004 Sharon Arts Center, Left Bank Artists Group Exhibition, Peterborough, NH
2006 Two Rivers Printmaking Studio: Momenta II, White River Junction, VT
2006 Jules Place: Summer Salon, Boston, MA
2005 NH Institute of Art Biennial, Manchester, NH
2004 NH Printmaking, Sharon Arts Center, Peterborough, NH
2004 & 2003 Jules Place: Saturation II & III, Boston, MA
2003 Gallery Victoria: Art Escapes, Naples, FL
2007, 2004 & 2003 Prints of the Year: What'Ãâ¢s New in NH Printmaking,, Franklin Pierce Law Center, Concord, NH
2002 The Assignment: Self-Portrait, Jaffrey Civic Center, Jaffrey, NH
2002 Jules Place: Modern Metaphor, Boston, MA
2001 Jules Place: Living Color, Boston, MA
2006 - 1998 The Friends of the Dublin Art Colony Annual Open Studio Tour
2003 & 1998 Fitchburg Art Museum 63rd Regional Exhibition of Art & Craft, Fitchburg, MA
lectures
Western Massachusetts Women'Ãâ¢s Caucus for Art - Artists Speak Series - The Creative Process, November 2002
Anderson-Soule Gallery, Demystifying the Monotype Print, October 2004
Sharon Arts Center, Left Bank Artists Group Gallery Talk, December 2006
corporate collections
Sulloway & Hollis, Concord, NH m Concord Hospital, Concord, NH
Nixon, Peabody, LLP, Boston, MA m Florida Cancer Specialists, Bonita Springs, FL m North Run Capital, Boston, MA
awards
Clowes Fellowship, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT 2003 m Award of Distinction, Gallery Victoria, Naples, FL 2003
represented by
Anderson-Soule Gallery, Concord, NH
Artes Scribendi, Ipswich, MA
Katharyn Alexandra Textile Art, Peterborough, NH
Lagerquist Gallery, Atlanta, GA