Catherine E. Chase

2022 Senior Exhibition Artists

Catherine E. Chase

Art + Design: Painting

About Catherine E. Chase

An enduring memory of kindergarten and first grade was the large easels, jars of poster paint and big brushes. In first grade we could go to the easels and paint if we finished all of our papers and desk work. I used to tear through the papers so that I could get to paint at the easels. It was quite a disappointment when the easels were removed and we no longer had an open invitation to paint. As a child I enjoyed plaques that were metal. They were printed with paint by number scenes. Little pots of oil paint were included. The plaques came out pretty well - the smell of the oil paint was intoxicating.

Years later, my husband and I wanted to adopt a little girl. We were told her mother was an artist and her father was a musician. As a result, I decided to take art lessons at Don’s Art Store in Barrington Rhode Island. My daughter and I participated in several art projects and classes. These included a three-year porcelain doll making experience. Porcelain doll heads would be cast from old molds, fired and hand painted. Since then, I attended Bristol Community College and completed an Associate’s Degree in Fine Arts and then transferred to UMass Dartmouth in Painting.

Statement

I have been a licensed psychotherapist and nurse for forty years. A major part of therapy is cognitive behavioral approaches. The point of the therapy is for the person to make a choice to focus on positive elements in life. When people who survived horrific situations were studied; it was learned that survivors can find and focus on the positive and beauty in any dire situation in which they find themselves. Painting has a power to drive a positive focus. The light, color, believable topography, texture, can provide an important distraction and relief from the horrific circumstances that clients discuss with me.

I In my recent studio work, I concentrate on painting images of deep space as captured by the Hubble and Spitzer telescopes. I also incorporate scenes that may be viewed here on earth such as the launch of the James Webb Telescope into space and the first published photo from the James Webb. The telescope is thought to be able to see galaxies all the way back to the creation. In painting landscapes or outer space, I work on capturing a believable image that could actually be found in nature. I also value all manner of contemporary art which often defies convention and has no use for realistic images found in the real world.

Recently, the Russians saw fit to blow up one of their satellites from earth. The result was an explosion of space junk that threatened the crew on the international space station. It seems that we have not learned from destroying our nest here. We feel compelled to damage what might save us in the future after we truly foul our home beyond repair.