“APPlied Images”
Recent Collages by Mary J. Rosiak
Altered Digital Photos by Frances R. Rosiak
Fran Rosiak Statement: Growing up with an older sister who entered the art world at an early age, I was always in awe of the “mysterious” artistic process I watched unfold time and time again in our home. Usually viewing myself as more or less “creatively challenged,” my own interests were focused more in the scientific world, preparing me for a career in science teaching. So it wasn’t until I developed an interest in nature photography as an adult, that I began to find my own artistic voice. And it took purchasing an iPhone less than a year ago to help me chart an even more exciting artistic course for myself. With the help of Erie photography instructor David Nelson, who offered a course in iPhone Art through Asbury Woods Nature Center last summer, I learned to explore the numerous photo applications available to iPhone users. And with my sister’s encouragement and artistic mentoring, I am now happy to share some of the results of my creative play. I still view the artistic process as mysterious, but I now feel I’m more of an active participant, rather than just an amazed bystander. And I’m very proud to be exhibiting my work next to that of my sister, Mary. Mary Rosiak Statement: I think I created my first collage in kindergarten at Lincoln Elementary School. It was a cut-and-paste Robin Redbreast, and after my teacher held it up to show it to the class, I knew that I wanted to do this ‘art thing’ all my life. Over the years, I have worked in every medium from ceramics to weaving, from printmaking to jewelry, and from sculpture to painting. Teaching high school and college Art for thirty years required some versatility on my part. But, since I have retired, it feels very natural for me to work in collage again and tell some stories about my life’s experiences through my works on paper. I use many of my favorite photographs in the compositions, and I complete the images with areas of drawing or painting. It’s obvious to see what interests me — color, texture and space, odd juxtapositions of images, flowers, iconic images and FISH. I get a lot of questions about why images of fish show up in many of my pieces. Growing up in Erie and fishing with my Dad for years, I just like them. I couldn’t be happier to share the exhibition space with my sister, Fran, who has always taken better photographs than I have. Her recently-acquired iPhone has opened up many creative possibilities for her own artistic expression. I have, sort of, come full-circle in my artwork, and I enjoy watching Fran in ‘pure discovery mode’ right now.
