METROSCAPES
by Phyllis Furdell
Ms. Furdell has been painting portraits for over twenty years, combining
careers as an artist and as a professional project manager, researcher,
and writer in the fields of economic development, urban poverty
and workforce issues. Primarily a self-taught artist, she has studied
with the late Rhoda Lurie Fried and George Palmer of Buffalo, NY;
Danni Dawson and Diane Tesler of the Art League School in Alexandria,
VA; and has taken workshops from renowned pastel artists Daniel
Green and Albert Handel.
"MetroScapes,"
Ms Furdell's series of paintings depicting scenes on Washington,
DC's subway system, has been compared to the social realism of artist
Edward Hopper and reflects her love of cities and her background
in urban issues. These paintings depict commuters on the Washington,
DC, subway system where the employed and unemployed, the young and
the old, the homeless and the professional, travel together. The
metro train system becomes a metaphor of life's journey itself,
strangers in the human family traveling together but preoccupied
with their individual destinies and destinations.
Furdell was
selected for exhibition in January 2004 through Target Gallery's
annual Open Call, during which a panel of art collectors and professionals
review proposals and award one opportunity for exhibition in the
gallery. Last year's panel was made up of WPA/C Director Annie Adjchavanich,
nationally recognized fiber artist B.J. Adams, and Washington area
collectors James and Jenna Blalock.
Target Gallery is the national exhibition space of the Torpedo Factory
Art Center, displaying artwork in all media from artists across
the United States and abroad. Located on the ground floor of the
Torpedo Factory Art Center, Target is open to the public Wednesday
through Sunday, 12 noon to 5 pm and other times by appointment.
The gallery is also open for Second Thursday Art Night in Old Town,
when many art businesses are open from 6-9 PM. Contact the gallery
at (703) 838-4565, ext. 4 or by e-mail at
chuschle@torpedofactory.org
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