Cookeville – Center Stage presents oil painting artist Evie Zimmer in an exhibition titled “Glimpse,” in the Joan Derryberry Art Gallery on the campus of Tennessee Tech University, Monday, Sept. 19 through Thursday, Oct. 20. There will be an artist talk and reception October 20 at 4:30 p.m.
Zimmer is an American artist working and teaching in Cleveland, Ohio. Her earlier kaleidoscopic abstract paintings earned her local and national recognition. Her inventive artwork challenges with optic effects that imitate computer generated imagery, but with individualism only the artist can construct. Zimmer’s oil paintings have been described as a “strange loop of process and product that radiate an inherent energy field.”
“This body of work represents my creative journey over the years; a glimpse into a place somewhere between reality and fantasy. My earlier work is a reflection of an emotional response to the world around me,” Zimmer said. “The formal elements were used to create complex designs based on geometric distortion. The heightened acerbic color reflected a state of anxiety and chaos.”
Her new work has become more floral and symmetrical combining her original style with realistic imagery. This transformation in style has earned Zimmer a number of awards and publications both nationally and internationally including International Artist Magazine, American Art Collector, 10Ten Magazine, Les Femme Follies, and online features by Vice Creators and Niji Magazine.
“Over time, nature crept into the geometric patterning eventually infiltrating and becoming the focus of my work. The omission of background and the circular motif reference the tondo, an architectural design element of the Renaissance,” Zimmer said. “The softened color palette combined with the circular movement exudes a calming aura offering the viewer an entrance to a meditative state.”
Zimmer’s work has also been digitally displayed on billboards in Baltimore and on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California. She is consistently creating new work from her studio in Euclid, Ohio where she welcomes visitors and students.
“’Wonderlust,’ my most recent painting, represents an evolution; a quest to continue exploring the mystery of human nature in contemporary society,” Zimmer said.
Admission to Center Stage events is free, unless otherwise noted. The events are paid for by student fees and open to the public with priority seating given to students. Many guests provide additional educational opportunities for students through workshops or master classes during their residencies. Email or call Liz Kassera, center stage coordinator, for more information at lkassera@tentech.edu or (931) 372-3637.
Artist exhibitions in the JDAG are located on the first floor of the Roaden University Center at 1000 N. Dixie Ave. N., Cookeville. Gallery hours vary, visit https://www.tntech.edu/centerstage/jdag/index.php for updated times.
