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Artist's works serve as 'windows' to the emotions

Artist Amber Rahe's work transports the viewer to a landscape of emotions.

2009-01-28
By Amanda Dyslin, Free Press Features Editor [published in The Free Press, Mankato, MN, 1/8/2009]

A variety of windows are displayed at The Emy Frentz Arts Guild, but unless you count the frames, you prob­ably won’t recognize any structures that allow you to see through walls.

The “Windows,” which is the title of artist Amber Rahe’s exhibit at the guild, are figurative. Rahe, who recently earned her master’s in art at Minnesota State University, doesn’t want to explain too much. For her, it’s more important each viewer has a unique experience and takes what they will from her work.

But, basically, she envisions the work to be various windows into different places decided upon by the viewer.

“Whether it’s a good place or a bad place, that can be determined from the viewer,” said Rahe, who first began to paint at age 5, partially inspired by her grandmother, also a painter.

Rahe’s body of work overall are abstract paintings of emo­tions “based on feelings of insignificance and smallness,” she wrote in her artist statement. “There is a sense of being left behind, being engulfed by something, being lost, or being over­powered.”

Rahe begins canvases with layers of color. She uses transpar­ent color washes and industrial colors, and the finished prod­ucts have a great sense of movement and repetition.

“I create these wall-sized, two- dimensional, fantastic envi­ronments to crawl into and to possibly experience that emo­tion from the outside.
It is impor­tant to me that the viewer does the same.”

If You Go:

What: “Windows,” by Amber Rahe

When: Runs through Feb. 11 at the Emy Frentz Arts Guild, 523 S. Second St.
The guild is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. week­days, with extended hours until 7 p.m.
Thursdays. The closing reception is 7 p.m. Feb. 6.

Admission: Free and open to the public.

For more information, call 387-1008.

For more Free Press news go to http://www.mankatofreepress.com/.
 

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