UCC Art Gallery to feature “still life” paintings by Michigan artist
Written by Press Release on March 18, 2022
ROSEBURG, Ore., Mar. 18, 2021 — The Art Gallery at Umpqua Community College is set to continue its diverse exhibition series this spring with the “Precarious Balance” collection by artist Maria Ruggiero. The exhibition will run from March 28 to April 28.
Ruggiero’s work focuses on the composition of objects, using the still life genre to provide an intimate glimpse into a time or place, or into an individual’s interests or environment. Employing color, pattern, and form, Ruggiero’s paintings are often filled with objects that relate to specific experiences or events the artist has shared with her family or close friends.
“Precarious Balance” includes paintings that focus on personal loss, while others wrestle with large-scale losses of the pandemic. Some of the art explores damage inflicted on the natural world—such as to oceans, plants and animals. She uses both natural and man-made objects and references in her paintings that are personal and specific, yet ordinary.
About the Artist
Maria Ruggiero has showcased her paintings in regional and national juried exhibitions, as well as a solo show and group exhibitions abroad. She received an MFA in Studio Art from Kent State University and a BFA in Studio Art and English from Michigan State University. Ruggiero is represented by Gallerie Nettles in Muenster Germany and her work is part of numerous private and permanent collections. She is a Professor of Art at Eastern Michigan University.
About The Art Gallery
The UCC Art Gallery located in the Whipple Fine Arts Building at Umpqua Community College, 1140 Umpqua College Road in Roseburg, is a 100 square-foot exhibition space that features six exhibitions per year, showcasing a variety of media from emerging to established artists. The primary focus of the Art Gallery is to exhibit high-quality artwork for the education and cultural benefit of the students of UCC and the residents of Douglas County. The gallery is free and open to the public. Hours are Monday – Wednesday, and Friday 10 am – 4 pm, and Thursday by appointment.
