Satellite Events

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Liquid Light was inspired by the observation of icicles forming after a huge winter storm’s snow started to melt and freeze. As they slowly grew from a second floor landing to the ground below, there was a kaleidoscope of changing shapes and pastel coloration as the light and temperature changed in the environment.

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Artist Statement: 

Inherent in the making of art is the transformation of a creative impulse into a creative action. In the visual arts this involves a change from the artistic concept to the art object. My work is strongly motivated by this idea of change, both in the making of the work and in the final image. Eastern philosophy, with its honoring of the simple and its focus on change with mindfulness in the present, is a guiding principle for me. My former profession of practicing psychologist and my experience of being a mother has reinforced the view that living life is about honoring change and recognizing impermanence. Thus, the capturing of the ephemeral is essential to my art.

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Close observation of the transformation that is inherent in nature, and my interaction with this natural environment, influence my art. The way plants change their form as they grow, the movement of wind and water, and the rhythm of light and shadow inform my work. My art, whether 2D or 3D, often depicts abstracted images moving in an undefined environment. Transitions from internal space to external space, from groundedness to groundlessness, are consistent themes in my work. The work is often presented in an informal manner with the intent of emphasizing the aesthetics of the everyday. 

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Simple, easily accessible and often natural objects are my materials of choice. The goal is always to maintain the integrity of the material while transforming it in a manner that allows the artist and the viewer to experience it in a new and often surprising way. The materials used, the lines drawn, the images portrayed, generally have the expressive quality of fragility and vulnerability. The challenge for this artist is to express an emotional sensitivity in the work, while maintaining a substance, an "Itness" that allows it to withstand the passing of time. This challenge refects my view of human development, the need to remain emotionally open while being strong enough to go the distance.

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Artist Bio: 

Christine Stoughton is a visual artist and art educator living in the greater Philadelphia area. She is a member of the Cerulean Arts Collective and InLiquid. She maintains a studio at Norristown Arts building. She is a graduate of Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art and has a PhD from Boston College. She has taught printmaking in numerous academic institutions and community art centers. She is currently an instructor of art aesthetics at the Barnes Foundation and St Joseph University and printmaking at Wayne Art Center. She works both in the two-dimensional and three-dimensional realm. She has exhibited both nationally and internationally in solo and group shows. Her belief is that art which contains an element of mystery is the art that is most engaging. She explores the concept of change and the ephemeral and references the natural world in her work. This work is strongly influenced by the knowledge gained through her experiences as a psychologist, teacher, and mother.

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