My work focuses on portraits of strangers combining orphaned, vintage photographs, abstract drawings and encaustic paint. This examination is motivated by a wish to reclaim these lost and forgotten souls by re-imagining their biographies.
My work has been exhibited in galleries throughout the US. I am represented by Tria Gallery, New York, NY and Mark Gallery, Englewood, New Jersey. My home and studio are in New Jersey.
www.marybethrothman.com
Like many people, I was awake for most of the early hours before sunrise on April 16th 2013. The bloody slaughter and devastation of the previous day’s bombing at the Patriot’s Day Boston Marathon was twisting and turning through my soul. At some point during these bleak hours I envisaged this painting, I Am Hopeful. This is my love letter to you Boston.
There’s one more reason to look forward to spring, which by the way starts in 36 days: El Anastui’s Broken Bridge II on the High Line in NYC. Here from Art 21 via You Tube:
For the home cooks sequestered in their kitchens tonight, tomorrow and next week for the New Year, working endless hours to prepare a magical holiday feast for their loved ones, I offer this video as a bit of holiday cheer…Semiotics of the Kitchen by Martha Rosler (1975). Rosler’s Meta-Monumental Garage Sale was on exhibit last month at MoMA in NYC.
Thursday, September 13, 2012 was the opening of c’est quoi la femme? at Tria GalleryNYC. It was a great night to be in Chelsea. The Gallery was overflowing throughout the evening with the Chelsea crowd, artists and friends.
Joanne Mattera, Lisa Pressman, Christine Aaron and Krista Svalbonas
I will be exhibiting in c’est quoi la femme?at Tria Gallery with Katheryn Holt, Jean Grangeon, Lauren Bergman, Keun Young Park and Koosuke IRKT Ikeda through December 8, 2012.
Far left: Catherine Holt, Koosuke IRKT Ikeda, Keun Young Park, Marybeth Rothman I need to get a better photo of Katheryn Holt”s painting.
Along with my mixed media portraits, I created a box that asks the viewer to answer the question, What is the question that you want someone to ask you? As a follow up to my recent blog post, Identity Project, this interactive piece has so far, collected many weird, wonderful and thoughtful questions that I will be weaving into my new work.
box: encaustic and mixed media, 22x6x2″ Marybeth Rothman
As I continue to explore identity in my mixed media portraits, I need your help. Please answer one or both of the following questions. I WILL NOT reveal your identity if I use your answer in whole or part, in form or content in my work. When you post your answer in the comments section please indicate if I should publish it on this blog or keep it confidential.
If you are an artist, you should get to know Alyson B Stanfield aka Art Biz Coach.
The other day, while excavating the debris of many months of intensive studio work preparing for my summer exhibitions, I found this wonderful list, 15 Steps to Take After Completing an Artwork written and blogged by Alyson B Stanfield. In another life, I will be more organized, or my galleries will get together and gift me with a studio assistant. For now I have the weekly newsletter from Alyson, that pokes and prods me to have a better studio practice. I have on occasion taken some of her online classes, which have been very helpful.
