Alum Seth Ruggles Hiler was interviewed by the North Jersey.com’s “Neighbor News” (Boonton Edition) in response to his exhibition through the
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The New Jersey Emerging Artist Series at the Monmouth Museum continues this summer with an exhibition of colorful and dynamic portraits by
Hiler captures as subjects his friends and family, with his goal in each work being to express both the likeness and emotional connection with each one.
"I am passionate about creating and recording connections to other people through portraiture," he said. "The challenge of translating the human face and figure from life and digital photography to canvas intrigues me. My ‘Twenty-Something Series’ is made up of oil and acrylic paintings of men in their 20s. I choose my subjects from the people who contribute to my own history, whether they are family, friends or members of my extended community."
According to his artist statement, Hiler began is private training at an early age and focused on painting flora and fauna. The scope of his subject matter broadened at Syracuse University towards the human figure and most specifically portraiture. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and his Master of Arts in 2005 from the New York Academy of Art in Manhattan, where he learned to understand the human anatomy and traditional painting techniques.
"In my work I combine my drive for expression with the knowledge gained from my training," he said. "The result is a classical sensibility with a contemporary understanding of color and composition. I illuminate my canvas with dynamic marks of tone and pigment, recording my view of person and place. Yet each painting goes beyond creating likeness or surface description to expressing a momentary relationship to my subject, informed by a collection of past experiences. Ultimately, the main goal of viewing the final work is to share that intimate exchange."
Hiler will give a gallery talk at the Monmouth Museum on Wednesday, Aug. 11, from 7 to 8 p.m., sharing insights on his work. The gallery talk is free and open to public.
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF MONMOUTH MUSEUM
Hiler's oil on canvas,
"Momentary Thanksgiving" |
The New Jersey Emerging Artists Series at the Monmouth Museum features six exhibitions held each year and provides a unique and exciting opportunity for New Jersey artists to showcase their work. The artists selected for this series represent the diversity of talent in the State and demonstrate their creativity in a wide variety of media, including drawing, painting, watercolor, pastel, handmade paper, collage, photography, mobile art, clay, mixed-media sculpture and glass art.
Gallery talks scheduled during the exhibitions offer artists the opportunity to share insights on their work.
The Monmouth Museum, a private, non-profit organization, is located on the Brookdale Community College Campus, Newman Springs Road, in Lincroft. For more information, call 732-747-2266 or visit www.monmouthmuseum.org.
