The Arts Council of Princeton presents Down To Earth: Artists Inspired By The Elements, an exhibition of work by artists who are influenced by elements such as fire, wind, and earth. Visitors can expect original works from Olivia Jupillat, Paul Mordetsky, and Alice Sims-Gunzenhauser. The art is on exhibit until February 27th at The Taplin Gallery.

About the Artists

From working in a vineyard in Oregon, to managing a traditional wine shop in Princeton, to traveling overseas, Olivia Jupillat’s experiences over the last few years have taken her work on an unexpected turn. “My fascination with root and earth structures stemmed from a brief introduction to viticulture and oenology in wine school, but fully emerged into an obsession once my studies were physically revealed in front of me and I could touch the sands, taste the dirt, and see the different strides in the rocks where ancient water once was.” Olivia’s travels to France inspired her to create work that fosters a “relationship between the viewer and the piece to connect and share a story about time, growth, history and tradition.”

Paul Mordetsky is drawn to “the landscape as a forum for representing space and light within the graphic language.” Of his paintings in Down To Earth, Paul describes how fire inspires his work: “Fire and smoke in the dark of night or in an encompassing timeless gray have been prominent aspects of these landscapes, and imply states of mind, passion, and inspiration rather than some apocalyptic vision. I find the notion of light in darkness to be a powerful and poetic image.”

Until a few years ago, Alice Sims-Gunzenhauser’s work focused on or relied on the use of line. As her work has headed more towards abstraction, her line has “metamorphosed into a more general focus on mark making.” “Though some marks may be lines”, Alice explains, “they are freed from the need to describe an observed reference and become entities of a somewhat different sort. When marks, whether linear or otherwise, move in and out of suggesting intelligible form, the work is most alive for me.”

Parking is available in the Spring & Hulfish St. garages and at metered parking spots along Witherspoon St. & Paul Robeson Pl.