DEWITT — An upcoming exhibit at May Memorial Unitarian Church will showcase pieces by North Syracuse textile artist Suzanne Masters.
Masters’ work, much of it abstract, will be featured in the church’s gallery through the month of May.
Mentioning that her art takes a certain level of open-mindedness to fully appreciate, Masters said she has recently started experimenting with layering coats and coats of acrylic paint on top of each other.
This technique applies to much of her May display, which is, in spots, met with torn paper collaging as well.
Masters said her layering approach results in unique textures and a degree of transparency that pokes through each blanket of paint on the 12-by-12-inch boards she uses. She said it has also taught her to trust her artistic instincts: the fact that nothing committed to the board has to be permanent boosts her confidence and lowers her fear of mistakes.
While she is hoping to one day find herself a larger, more well-lit studio, Masters’ creative process for her artwork has additionally involved the integration of “gifts” from the outdoors, such as seeds, feathers, leaves, sticks and pinecones.
“I love to marry several elements to create one piece,” she said.
Dating back to her days studying surface pattern and design at Syracuse University, Masters has cultivated a love for the Japanese fabric-manipulating dyeing technique of shibori, the pit firing of pottery, as well as African and Native American styles of art.
She has also become a henna artist, often gravitating toward a burnt-orange-like color for the prepared plant-based paste, while other segments of her days are devoted to energy healing practices and yoga instruction, including chair yoga teachings for seniors at North Syracuse and Cicero libraries.
Her artistic touch has also carried over to her career as a painting contractor over the last 38 years. Her company, Suzanne & Son’s Painting, for which she concentrates on interiors and the transformation of a room’s vibration with the right colors and shades.
“Art’s a big love of mine, and I hope to be doing it the rest of my life,” Masters said.
To view her portfolios and learn more about her various efforts, visit suzannemastersart.com or peacefulplaceswithsuzannemasters.com.
Those interested in taking an up-close gander at Masters’ exhibited work are asked to call ahead of time to make sure the Universalist Society has opened the gallery part of its church, which is located at 3800 E. Genesee St. in Syracuse. For more information, call the church at 315-446-8920; office hours are Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
