Renee Gaylin Ritter (American, b. 1935)
Growth, c. 1990s
Mixed media on canvas
16 1/4 x 31 3/4 x 2 in.
Signed lower right
Bio from Renee Ritter's website:
I'm a New Yorker, born and bred. I was raised with noise and rush and life all around me. My world was vivid technicolor, and no one ran faster than I did. I met and married the man of my dreams, and had the joys and exasperations of raising a family. And all of these events would have been the colors of my canvas if not for the happy opportunity of being able to spend some years in Japan.
Japan is the perfect place to plunk down a New Yorker. While it races along on one level, there is this other part of Japan that forces you to hit the mental brakes until the images racing by slow down enough to actually be seen! Eastern thought is a well from which to draw the pure water that clears the mind and strengthens the soul.
I've had the unbelievable pleasure of turning visions into realities, and of having those pieces of me scattered around the world. I'm thrilled that they've found so much acceptance in exhibitions, and I'm humbled at the thought that they hang on the walls of museums. But I have to say that I am most pleased when they speak so loudly to another soul that that person has to bring me home to continue our conversation for years to come.
For the last 18 years, I've been a teacher, too. I have all the joys of being able to step back from what I do, and think through the principles I've recognized and the pathways I've wandered. And then to offer those insights to others to help them bring out their own mental images for the rest of us to share.
AWARDS
National Collage Society, "Postcard Exhibit", Merit Award, 00
National Collage Society, Kent State U, Kent, OH, Merit Award, 99
Hazel Witte Memorial Award, NAWA, 1996
Heckscher Mus of Art, Hon Mention, Jurors: Will Barnet, Robt Blackburn,'96
Muscarelle Mus, Wmsburg,VA, Purchase Prize,'96, Post Victorian, Jury: Tom Armstrong
Muscarelle Mus of Art, College of Wm & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, Hon Mention,'96
Nassau County Mus of Art Annex, Silver Award, '94
Award of Merit, Chelsea Center, East Norwich, NY, 1993
Dr Wu & Elsie Ject-Key Memorial Award, NAWA, 1993
Heckscher Mus, Donn Steward Graphic Award,'90
Clara Shainess Memorial Award, NAWA,'90
Heckscher Mus, Honorable Mention, Ivan Karp, Juror,'88
Long Beach Mus, Award of Excellence, '88,'87
Islip Art Mus, First Prize, Alternative Media,'87
Nassau Co Mus, Award of Excellence,'86
Heckscher Mus, Award of Merit, Carter Ratcliff Juror,'86
Long Beach Mus, Second Prize,'86
Florence B Andresen Award, NAWA,'85
Five Towns Music & Art, Honorable Mention,'83
Dorothy Seligson Memorial Prize, NAWA,'82
Long Beach Mus,'81 Independent Artists, NY '81 Lincoln House, NY,'80 HTAL Exhibition, NY,'79
Musical Score:Composer,Lucio Petroccione Jr, Fortunes of the Fifth House, inspired by ptg,'83
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
1997: Elaine Benson Gallery, Bridgehampton, NY, "Light and Shadow"
1996: Gallery Emanuel, Great Neck, NY
1995: Gallery Authentique, Roslyn, NY
1993: Discovery Gallery, Glen Cove, NY
1992: '91,'86,'84,'82,'81: Viridian Gallery, 24 W 57th St NYC
1992: Islip Mus, Islip, NY, "Featured Artists of the Permanent Collection"
1992: Gallery Authentique, Roslyn, NY
1991: The Gallery, Bryant Library, Roslyn, NY
1991: Elaine Benson Gallery, Bridgehampton, NY, "Nat Drawing Assn"
1990: South Huntington Library, Huntington, NY
1989: Jericho Library, Jericho, NY
1988: Elaine Benson Gallery, Bridgehampton, NY, "Exotica"
1988: SmithtownTwnshp Arts Council,Mills Pond House NY, "Women in the Arts"
1988: Nassau County Museum of Fine Art, NY, "LI Artists"
1987: Danville Museum of Art, Danville, Virginia
1985: Port Washington Library, Port Washington, NY
1983: Concordia College, Bronxville, NY
SELECTED JURIED EXHIBITIONS
Ise Art Foundation, NAWA, "fragments", collage & assemblage, SOHO, NY, 2000
National Collage Society, Kent State Univ., Kent, OH 99
Traveling Painting Exhibition, Nat Assoc Women Artists, 98- 99, 98- 96, 85
Shelter Rock Art Gallery, Unitarian Church, NAWA, Manhasset, NY, 99
Islip Art Museum, NY, "The Altered Image", 1997
The Cultural Center of Southampton Village, NY, "Salon des Femmes", 1997
Abney Gallery, SOHO, NY, NDA, 1997
Eleftherias Park Art Center, Athens, Greece, NAWA, 1996
Valdosta State U, Valdosta, GA,"Works on Paper VIII",1996
Maryland Federation of Art, MD, "Art on Paper",'96,'95,'94
Smithtown Twnshp Arts Council, Mills Pond House, St James, NY,"Great Linear Space Exhibit",'94
Chelsea Mansion, E Norwich, NY, NAWA Exhibition, 1994
Nassau Co Mus of Art Annex, "North by South", 1994
Muscarelle Mus, VA,"Amer Drawing Biennial ",'96,'94
Chelsea Center, E Norwich, NY, 1993
New England Fine Art Institute, "State of the Art '93",1993
Ft Hays Kansas State U,"Nat Small Drawing Exhibition",'91
Nassau Co Mus Fine Art, Roslyn, NY '87,'86,'84,'83
Heckscher Mus Huntington, NY 00,'96,'94,'92,'90,'88-86,'83,'81,'79,'75,'73
Islip Art Mus, Islip, NY '89,'87-83
FAMLI Mus, Hempstead, NY '95 '94,'92,'91,'89,'88,'85,'83
Silvermine Guild for the Arts, New Canaan, CT '94,'92,'86,'83,'81
Parrish Art Mus, Southampton, NY '84
Bergen County Mus, Paramus, NJ '91,'83 NAWA Exhibitions
Five Towns Music & Arts, Woodmere, NY '85,'83,'81,'79
Nassau Comm College, Gdn Cty, NY,'96 '95,'93,'88-86,'83,'81-80,'77-76
Long Beach Mus Art, Long Beach, NY '90-85, '82-79
Port Washington Library, Pt Wash, NY '81,'72
Audubon Artists, NYC '88,'76,'74
NAWA Centenary Traveling Exhibition, "100 Years 100 Artists", '87
Discovery Gallery, Glen Cove NY '94-'89
MUSEUM PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
Muscarelle Museum of Art, Coll of Wm & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, '96, Post Victorian
Jane Voorhis Zimmerli Mus of Art at Rutgers Univ, New Brunswuck, NJ, '94, Autumn Twilight
Hillwood Museum, Long Island Univ, Greenvale, NY, 1993, Watermusic II
Islip Museum of Art, Islip, NY, 1992, Lunchbreak
FAMLI Museum, Hempstead, NY, 1991, Peter Takes the Train
Danville Museum of Arts, Danville, VA, 1987, The Eagle Has Guests