August 2013

Art League of Hilton Head on Hilton Head Island, SC, Offers Works by Arlene Linder

The Art League of Hilton Head on Hilton Head Island, SC, is presenting Lowcountry Expressions, featuring new views of the Lowcountry by Arlene Linder, on view through Aug. 24, 2013. A reception will be held on Aug. 1, from 5-7pm and an artist’s walk through of the exhibit on Aug. 15, from 11am-noon.

When Arlene Linder, 76, moved from California to the Southern Lowcountry in late 2011, her new surroundings offered a fresh world of colors, textures, temperatures, landscapes and characters inspiring the featured eye-catching series “Lowcountry Expressions”.

Revealing bright, vibrant colors combined with her bold, expressionistic painting style, Linder transformed her perception of local details into an original series of acrylics and oils paintings.

The new setting, coupled with an exceptional studio in her home, has inspired this San Francisco native to expand her award-winning style that has transformed throughout the past several decades into fearless expression. Whereas her former studio was situated in her California garage, now she has walls of glass and can watch the day’s changing colors and passing wildlife including an alligator in her backyard lake.

“It’s incredibly different here from California; the landscape, the people, the trees. Everything is so green and lush. I was intrigued by the people, their kindness and sculptured hairdos,” Linder explained. “The light here appears brighter because of the humidity and the intense exposure from the Southern sun. I’ve rarely seen such vibrant colors in the landscape, and I’m thrilled to express those new visions in my paintings.”

An avid traveler, Linder said, “The only other place I’ve visited with such amazing colors was in Antarctica.” Throughout the years, not only has Linder’s art been influenced by her travels, but she also draws from a composite of experiences, dreams, questions, feelings and visualizations.

In addition to studying art at schools such as Academy of Art in San Francisco and Oakland’s California College of Arts and Crafts, Linder earned her BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute, graduating with honors. Ending her formal art education with her degree in 1985, she went on to win numerous juried competitions including the Marin Society of Artists, Bay Arts, and University of California at Santa Barbara. Moreover, she was chosen to be an artist-in-residence for a year-long program with artist David Ireland at the Marin Headlands.

Linder’s artwork has been featured in numerous shows, galleries and museums such as the Crocker Museum, Humboldt State University and the Frank Lloyd Wright Marin Civic Center Gallery. Aside from her paintings being part of permanent collections such as the Riverside Art Museum, her drawings were published in the book Art.Rage.Us. The book was produced to accompany the “Art.Rage.Us” show that traveled throughout the United States and abroad to raise breast cancer awareness.

Prior to her formal art training, Linder founded, owned and operated the multinational business MopTops. The children’s designs and room accessories company was featured in Ladies Home Journal and American Home Magazine. As well, her designs were sold in high-end stores including Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, Marshall Field’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Bonwit Teller in New York City.

Additionally, Linder has taught art enrichment to disadvantaged children in Richmond, CA, and to severely disabled students at the National Institute for Art and Disabilities.

For further information check our SC Institutional Gallery listings, call the League at 843/681-2399 or visit (www.ArtLeagueHHI.org).

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