Maureen Fritchen exhibition at 716 Gallery

716: Fine Art Gallery presents Maureen Fritchen: Environments from June 27 through July 20.

Fritchen, a Racine resident for 20 years, works in a mixed media of natural elements and paint to capture the “cellular level elevated to environments.”

“Forms are recognizably organic, floating, as if blown by wind…pulsating and peculating,” Fritchen said. The natural elements are contrasted with linear lines and geometric forms to “define order, balance and interconnectedness.”

The somber and warm tones of Fritchen’s works, at first reminiscent of Rothko’s canvases, appear minimalistic. However, Fritchen rewards patient observers with increased complexities on and below the work’s surface. Beginning with a chaotic and spontaneous layer of decomposing leaves, dust, hair, Fritchen buries the piece’s history with layers of paint. The final works are “resolved” and “controlled” paintings in which the surface is manipulated and sanded to reveal their stories.

This will be Fritchen’s second solo show at 716: Fine Art, having previously shown at the gallery’s former Kensoha location.

The opening reception for Maureen Fritchen is Friday, June 27, from 6-9 p.m.