The Langman Gallery in Willow Grove is proud to present an exhibition of recent oil paintings by Delaware Valley artist & educator 
Maria Christopher. This exhibition opens October 1st and continues through October 31st, 2014.
For Maria Christopher the painting process involves more than the mere act of applying paint to surface. She describes painting as “opening your junk drawer and organizing it. Everything I love is in that drawer. Birds, flowers, bugs, color, line, form and I have to make sense of it. I have to throw out what I don’t need and make sure what I keep is worthy of the real estate”. Her naïve perspective is bold and introspective while showcasing the beauty of simplicity of life.
Oil on wood
Maria begins by arranging small vignettes of objects & allows each element to settle into the perfect place. It’s all about this dance before the permanence of a balanced composition reveals itself. Throughout her creative process, applications of color and pattern, mark-making & sanding leave a layered trail of pattern over color over pattern. Self-control is of little significance in the development of a painting since the journey is really her true addiction- like “chasing fairy dust”.
Maria grew up in a small town in Connecticut then relocated to Philadelphia to attend the University of the Arts. She earned a BFA in Painting and a Masters in Art Education. Her studies allowed her to travel throughout Europe & she settled in Italy for two years. After college she maintained a studio on the Italian Market in Philadelphia for over twenty years. She taught art in both public and private schools and currently teaches at SoHA where her studio also resides in Haddon Township, New Jersey.
Since 1972, Langman Gallery has presented unique handmade crafts and fine art by American artists and designers. Recently named one of NICHE magazine’s Top Retailers of 2009, the gallery features fine contemporary crafts including ceramics, furniture, glass, jewelry, lighting, paintings, prints, and sculpture. The annual Top Retailer Awards program recognizes craft galleries who are committed to growing and strengthening the North American craft community.
The gallery is located adjacent to Bloomingdale’s in Willow Grove Park. Hours are Monday–Saturday, 10am-9:00pm and Sunday 11am-6pm. Swing by the store to see some wonderful works of local art and check out their Facebook page at, the Langman Gallery.
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