ANDREA KOWCH: LIFTING THE VEIL By Alyssa M. Tidwell
ANDREA KOWCH’S MIDWESTERN SCENES EXPRESS THE COMPLEX NATURE OF HUMAN EMOTION.
The sublime artwork of Andrea Kowch is laced with allegory and symbolism—a filter through which the vast complexities of the human condition are projected back onto the canvas in physical form. Her latest body of work was originally intended as part of a previous solo exhibition but was delayed as a result of the artist’s continuous “quest for complexity and detail,” she says. Across the Open
Sky, an upcoming exhibition at RJD Gallery in New York, is an extension of that narrative, a commentary on the many dualities of the natural world: light and dark, stillness and movement, male and female, yin and yang, and the quest for harmony and balance, with wind and the endless sky acting as emblems of spiritual discovery and truth.
Soft, neutral tones make up the color palettes of her acrylics, which feature subjects with pensive, often solemn expressions. “The lonely, desolate American landscape encompassing the paintings’ subjects serves as an exploration of nature’s sacred
ness and a reflection of the human soul,” Kowch says. A native of Michigan, her realist paintings portray an in-depth view of the rural American Midwest.
In Reunion, a rosy-cheeked, modestly dressed woman sits in a train car rolling through the countryside, seemingly lost in thought, while through the window the headlights of an old automobile shine in contrast against the darkening day. A dog—which is Kowch’s Lhasa Apso rescue, Lucky—sits next to her, relaxed, looking the other way.
“Reunion in many ways hearkens back to a more romantic time of travel. It also speaks to the feelings of anticipation, longing and trepidation of embarking on what is to come. A reflection on love, both human to human and the unconditional love between human and companion animal are all apparent,” the artist says. “This painting is particularly near to my heart, as it is also a representation of the deep, sacred bond between myself and my own sweet canine, Lucky…who continues to be at my side throughout my journey.”
She continues, “Glowing nightfall and the presence of the moon further adds a cosmic charge to the dreamy mystery that permeates the scene.” The stories behind her paintings are born out of raw, real-life experiences—imagery that illustrates the human condition and its connection to the mysteries of the world. “Where or who is the young woman traveling to? Who or what is she awaiting to reunite with? Who is in the automobile that races to meet the train’s arrival? Or is it simply passing by, like a thought in her mind, and going on its own way?” she questions. “The painting carries a profound air of mystery not unlike a cinematic moving picture. Like the twists and turns of a story weaving toward an eagerly awaited outcome, this painting is meant to evoke feelings that transcend the boundaries of time and space.”
A pastoral scene of muted olive greens and overcast skies set a tone of nonchalance in Soiree. A woman sits casually on a picnic blanket in the center of the composition, surrounded by black crows intruding on her and her canine’s feast. The piece, Kowch says, is intended to portray a whimsical interaction between humans and animals as the birds seem to “interrupt” what was intended to be a solitary summer afternoon. “The sense of irony and indifference in her reaction to the interruption carries an air of both apathy and amusement. Upon further
observation, however, we begin to notice that her bountiful picnic appears to have maybe not been completely planned for only her enjoyment alone. Multiple plates in her basket hint at perhaps an unspoken hope and desire, and even preparedness for, and expectation of company,” she says. “In this lively composition, she does not protest the birds’ audacious arrival. Instead, she appears to secretly embrace it. In staying open to chance and expecting the unexpected, we just may find what we seek—when we least expect it.”
Kowch explains how these stories and scenarios make their way onto the canvas. Sometimes a simple drive through the countryside can cultivate the seeds of an idea, while lately images seem to flash through her mind without any particular catalyst, she says. Once she feels an idea has enough solidity to pursue, she sits down and begins brainstorming compositions through rough thumbnail sketches. Other pieces in the exhibition, like
Runaway and In My Mind, use the powerful forces of wind as a symbol for life’s inevitable changes, leading to new lessons and experiences. Kowch describes these as some of the most energetically and emotionally charged works in the series, possessing a strength that matches the forces of nature itself.
“Andrea Kowch is that extremely rare mix of creativity that crosses all boundaries and certainly all art collections,” says Richard Demato, principal at RJD Gallery. “We wonder what the relationship is among the characters in her paintings, but we clearly see the complexity of their thoughts and deep buried emotions underlying the artwork.”
“I seek out the various forms of beauty and mystery in the world, and one of my goals is to help people reach a place of peace, contemplation and wonder within themselves when gazing upon my art,” says Kowch.
Across the Open Sky will be on view May
4 through June 7.