Ruth Rieffanaugh: "Enigmas" Art Exhibit

Summary:

Ruth Rieffanaugh: “Enigmas” a solo exhibition of 15 recent oil and mixed media paintings by Boston artist Ruth Rieffanaugh about life which can oftentimes be mysterious and more than a little puzzling.  Her colorful abstract paintings with many personal images,  messages and affirmations are an encouragement for herself and for others.  The public opening reception is Wednesday November 14 – 7:00 – 9:00 pm with a short artist talk at 7:30 pm. | The exhibition concludes on December 31, 2012 |  Athan’s Café Art Gallery, 1621 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA |Open everyday 8:00 am – 11:00 pm.  617-734-7028 | www.athansbakery.com.

Full Press Release

For its late fall art exhibition in Brookline, Athan's Café Art Gallery proudly presents: Ruth Rieffanaugh: “Enigmas” a solo exhibition of 15 recent oil and mixed media paintings by Boston artist Ruth Rieffanaugh about life, which can oftentimes be mysterious and more than a little puzzling. Her colorful abstract paintings with many personal images,  messages and affirmations are an encouragement for herself and for others. The public opening reception is Wednesday, November 14 from 7:00-9:00 pm with a brief artist talk at 7:30 pm. The exhibition concludes on December 31. All of the paintings on exhibit can be purchased at the opening reception and throughout the exhibition run.  Athan’s, which has  been exhibiting some of the top regional artists at both of its locations for the past year, is located at 1621 Beacon Street in Brookline’s Washington Square  and is open everyday from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm.

According to the  artist,  her artworks are about ideas and for Ruth those ideas emerge as enigmatic imagery.  Drawn from personal experiences, the work  grapples with the very personal yet universally personal – that nameless realm of feelings that blend the passionate and pleasurable, the angst and anguish, the uncertain and unsettled – often evoking a moment in time, a meaningful place, a despairing loss or a sudden discovery.

With adept characters,  imagery and transparency, Ruth brings us deep into a mind in conflict torn between tranquility and fear.  She leaves floating spaces around her images to allow for the freedom of changing thoughts and ideas.  As a group, her paintings reveal uncertainty and barriers for the mind.  She challenges the mind to confront those limitations and she presents us with the concepts that “change is constant” and life “is what it is.”  Many artists strive to create art that is a portal to understanding and appreciating the inner being, but Ruth’s artwork succeeds better than most. 

Ruth Rieffanaugh resides in Allston and maintains her art studio in Allston as well.  She received a Masters in Art Education from Lesley University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Art Institute of Boston.  She is also licensed in Massachusetts as a Teacher of the Visual Arts.  She currently is the Director of the Dorchester Alternative Youth Academy and teaches drawing at the Boston Architectural College.  Ruth has exhibited in numerous local and regional galleries, including the Lesley University Gallery, the Copley Society Gallery, Boston City Hall’s Scully Gallery,  the Brighton-Allston Heritage Museum and the Cambridge Art Association Galleries.  She is also a member of the Cambridge Art Association and a founding member of the new Unbound Visual Arts, Inc.  Her public art experience includes creating original artwork for several City of Boston traffic control boxes.