An exhibit of abstract paintings on Venetian plaster by Salida artist Dvora Kanegis is on display at Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center through June 30.
"I used to be interested in painting the thing. Now I am interested in painting the nothing," said Kanegis. "What is implied, not defined, interests me."
Kanegis's painting is influenced by the work and teachings of Josef Albers, a Bauhaus artist who believed that color, rather than form, was the primary medium of pictorial language. Kanegis mixes her colors depending on her mood and never has an intended outcome in mind when starting a new painting. "It is an exploration, an adventure, which concludes when I like what I see," said Kanegis.
Kanegis received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, and earned her master's degree from Yale University. She taught at Rhodes School and Knox Martin, both in New York City, before focusing on painting while she raised her children. She has also owned galleries and studios in Arizona and Colorado.
In 2009, Kanegis moved to Salida and opened Casa Tango Gallery and Studio, where she offers tango lessons in addition to creating her paintings. Her art is also represented by culture clash in Salida.
All works in the hospital exhibit are for sale, and 25 percent of the proceeds are donated to the HRRMC Foundation.
HRRMC is hosting four art exhibits this year, as part of its mission to create a healing environment. The hospital displays the work of regional artists, with an emphasis on the Arkansas Valley. For more information on exhibiting art at HRRMC, call (719) 530-2217.
