Bettcher Gallery | Debora Carfagno

DEBORA CARFAGNO

Carfagno has been painting since 1975, and throughout her years as an artist developed repute as both an instructor in printmaking at New York's School of Visual Arts and as master seriographer at Ruppert Smith's printmaking facility from 1977-1983, producing works on canvas and paper for artist Andy Warhol. Owning and operating her own galleries in Pennsylvania for seven years, Carfagno managed and directed the careers of numbers of artists, carving an even deeper insight for the fine art and perhaps, atmosphere.

While painting continuously, she began to concentrate on a new medium incorporating laser technology. Converting her drawings to the clean lines of laser cut aluminum, these paintings create a unique multiple art form. Projecting from any wall approximately two inches, the actual form of each multiple produces a highly dimensional effect through silhouette.

This most recent work re-examines her earlier Sunflower and Koi Fish imagery, previously on canvas. "By making a transition to cut aluminum, I am clarifying and redefining important elements that were in the canvases. Sunflowers are a symbol of universal spirituality and hope--they are an invitation to slow down, to stop and see the beauty in life and art.

Creating these metal 'Wallflowers' removes them from any landscape reference and raises questions. They become two dimensional and three dimensional at the same time. The folded shadowed leaves and centers remind us of the beauty and permanence of nature, yet they are made of metal, and as in a portrait, stand frozen in their appointed time."

" Precise line drawings set the composition and tone of my earlier paintings on canvas. By converting pencil line into the clean edge of laser cut aluminum, the images are reduced to their essence.

"These metal pieces contain elements of three mediums; sculpture, painting, and printmaking. This raises interesting questions. Are they sculpture because they are made from metal, project off the wall, or are free standing? Are they painting because a ground is applied and then painted with traditional oil techniques and fine cadmium pigments? Or are they monotypes because the aluminum cuts become universal skeletons--and my challenge is to
paint a unique multiple on each one?"

"These 'Wallflowers' and 'Flying Fish' are all of these. They are found in nature, living and growing; always moving and changing. They are similar and yet different which is in keeping with the subjects of these works."

Born:

New York, NY 1955

Education:

School of Visual Arts, New York, NY, BFA, 1976

Solo Exhibitions:

1998 Green&Green Gallery, Lambertville, PA
1997 Bettcher Gallery, Miami Beach, FL
1993 Larsen Dulman Gallery, New Hope PA

Group Exhibitions:

1999 Bettcher Gallery, Miami Beach, FL
Spring Lake Gallery, Spring Lake, NJ
Green&Green Gallery, Lambertville, PA
Opera Gallery, Singapore
J. Cooper Galllery, Shephardstown, WV
Dubin-Kahn Gallery, Great Neck, NY
1998 Bettcher Gallery, Miami Beach, FL
Green&Green Gallery, Lambertville, PA
1997 Bettcher Gallery, Miami Beach, FL
Green&Green Gallery, Lambertville, PA
1996 Bettcher Gallery, Miami Beach, FL
Green&Green Gallery, Lambertville, PA
1995 Bettcher Gallery, Miami Beach, FL
Green&Green Gallery, Lambertville, PA
1994 River Run Gallery, Frenchtown, NJ
Green&Green Gallery, Lambertville, PA
1993 River Run Gallery, Frenchtown, NJ
Larsen Dulman Gallery, New Hope, PA
1992 River Run Gallery, Frenchtown, NJ
Larsen Dulman Gallery, New Hope, PA
1991 Larsen Dulman Gallery, New Hope, PA
1990 Larsen Dulman Gallery, New Hope, PA
1989 Larsen Dulman Gallery, New Hope, PA
1988 Larsen Dulman Gallery, New Hope, PA

Publications:

1998 Beres, Derek, "Cutting Out", Time Off Section, Princeton Packet, June
1997 Sasser, Michael, "Calendar", SunPost, Miami, FL, November

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