by donald dusinberre imartsyfartsy@gmail.com
Who knew we could see great art at the Museum of Science and History? Mostly known for their kids fare like dinosaurs, sharks, and hands-on exhibits, MOSH is branching out into the art world. From now through September 30th, 2007, patrons of MOSH will be greeted at the door by the fantastic artwork of Princess Simpson Rashid. The lobby area of MOSH has been transformed into an informal art gallery, and it seems they’ve found the perfect artist to furnish their first exhibit.
Princess Simpson Rashid is a Jacksonville resident with numerous skills and interests, having earned her B.S. in physics and astronomy as well as additional education in painting and printmaking. She also happens to be a fencing champion. To our benefit, Rashid somehow manages to seamlessly incorporate this unusual mix of knowledge and talent into her artwork.
Recently awarded an Art Ventures grant from a philanthropic organization called The Community Foundation in Jacksonville, Rashid was commissioned to merge her mathematical, scientific, and artistic talents into paintings that explore the relationships between such diverse subjects. The results of her grant are now being displayed for the first time, and MOSH is the ideal location for such an experiment.
Rashid’s work accomplishes the objective in a number of ways. Visually stimulating, most of the paintings are mixed media works on canvas, paper, or wood panels and primarily painted with acrylic paints. But, other than the acrylics, none of the materials are disclosed in the description. Artists use the term “mixed media” to indicate that more than one material was used to create a piece. Painters often use all sorts of things to enhance the appearance and texture of their work, including wax, fabric, paper, tape, lettering, and sand. Whether on purpose or by chance, we’re left with a challenge to try and figure out what else has been used in the painting. It’s a small degree of interaction that fits nicely with the interactive theme so prevalent in the rest of the museum.
The various materials used to create the paintings aren’t the only things we can look for. Her paintings are peppered with scientific and mathematical equations, which are dribbled loosely over the surface. One painting features, as far as I can tell, the entire periodic table. I have to admit though, my blood pressure spikes a bit when I see trigonometric formulas. It’s an uncomfortable yet comical experience to have a flashback of high school math class at 30.
In terms of color and paint application, the paintings are dynamic and expertly composed. Created almost completely with drips and splashes of paint either thickened or thinned, Rashid has managed to direct the randomness of those splashes and drips into coherent spaces that appear neither too busy nor too scant. Often, when an artist utilizes many colors, he/she tends to use colors straight from the tube. It’s a lazy and thoughtless thing to do, but Rashid’s colors are expertly mixed to unique hues and perfectly placed amongst one another to excellent effect. It’s rare to find an artist who can master the application of an expressionist, the composition of a realist, and the color palette of a surrealist.
The work of Princess Simpson Rashid will be on display at MOSH from now until September 30th, 2007. To learn more about Rashid and her work, visit her website at www.theswordandbrush.com.
The Museum of Science and History is located at 1025 Museum Circle, Jacksonville, Florida. Check out the museum’s website at www.themosh.org to stay informed on upcoming displays and features.
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