WHITNEY RIVER (American b. 1971-)PainterThrough close observation and realistic renderings of organic forms, I create meditative compositions that evoke the human experience. When I am struck by something I see in the woods or along the ocean’s shore, I know I have discovered an image that holds meaning for me. These beautiful snippets of the natural world are sources of solace, of wonder, of inspiration. As I explore the visual potential of the form in two dimensions, I am always delighted by the first moment of recognition: suddenly, the reason for my initial reaction becomes apparent to me. The creative process enables me to decipher, through form and image, the layers of reality at work beneath the surface of my consciousness.By removing the objects from their natural context and arranging them in a new environment, I allow them to develop new associations. The simplicity of my compositions, rendered in silvery graphite against stark white or gray grounds, emphasizes the way the organic forms interact with each other and with the space around them. Separated from their origins and presented without distraction, I can focus on the individual objects, and appreciate them not only for what they are, but for what they might represent. Each branch reveals curves, bends, bumps and scars that express its unique character. A vine twists and wraps itself around a branch, carving a path through space. A shell begins to show signs of wear, as tiny cracks and fractures emerge, interrupting its perfect spiral. A seed holds the potential of an individual, as it suggests immeasurable possibilities.My current landscape drawings continue to offer quiet, meditative reflections of the human experience through nature. When I first moved from the city of Portland to the rural midcoast, I saw beauty everywhere. I was unsure, initially, how I would select new subject matter, when in every direction I looked, I could see vistas of countless potential subjects. Then, I very quickly started wondering how any artist could possibly live in midcoast Maine and not want to be a landscape artist. While now placed within scenes of tranquil, isolated beauty, these organic forms still exist in relation to each other in compositions that suggest our desire for connection. Reeds still lean towards each other, a tree branch reaches down to try to touch the water, clusters of leaves cling together on a branch. And with that longing, there are endless possibilities for more connections all around us. SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:2022-2025 Carver Hill Gallery, Camden, ME2022 Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay, ME2022 Granite Gallery, Tenants Harbor, ME2022 Visionary Art Collective: ‘Ephemeral/Eternal,’ Juried Online Exhibition2022 MECA Collect, Institute for Contemporary Art, Portland, ME2021 Annual Art Show, High Mountain Hall, Camden, ME2021 Pen Bay Medical Center Inaugural Juried Exhibition, Rockport, ME2021 MECA Collect, Institute for Contemporary Art, Portland, ME2021 Gallery 263, Cambridge, MA: ‘Flora,’ Juried Exhibition2021 Harlow Gallery, Hollowell, ME: ‘ART2021,’ Juried Exhibition2020 Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockport, ME:2020 Annual Art Show, High Mountain Hall, Camden, ME2020 Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH: ‘Magnitude Seven,’ Juried ExhibitionCOLLECTIONS:Milliman, Inc., Portland, ME.; Cambridgeport Bank, Brighton, MA.; Fidelity Investments, Boston, MA.; Camden Dermatology and Mohs Surgery, Rockport, MEPUBLICATIONS:Humana Obscura Literary Magazine, Sept. 2020, April 2021 + 2022; American Art Collector Magazine, November 2007; Duffy Design Group Online Virtual Tour, Fall 2006; Poetry East Magazine, Cover Image, DePaul University Department of English, issue number 57, Fall 2006; Art and Antiques Magazine Website, Featured Emerging Artist, April 2005; Boston Globe, November 2005; Portland Museum of Art 2003 Biennial Catalogue, March 2003; Maine Sunday Telegram, January 2003; Boston Globe, August 2002; Boston Phoenix, July 2002EDUCATION:1995 Yale University, BA, art major Whitney lives in Camden, ME with herhusband and two children.