Artist's 'simple abstraction' expressions in new gallery
By Mary J. Barker
June 20, 2009
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon
SPRING LAKE -- For Grand Haven artist Linda Dimitroff, opening her Graffia Gallery has been a dream long in the making. The gallery at 215 W. Savidge in Spring Lake had its grand opening reception June 5 and was so successful, she sold a substantial work right off the wall that very evening.
The building, which was purchased by Dimitroff and her fiance, John Ringleberg, lends itself perfectly to serve as the gallery's exhibition and teaching space and painting studios. The high ceilings, white walls and abundant windows allow for much natural light, which showcases paintings on display.
Currently, 29 of Dimitroff's works are featured in the gallery.
Johnny Quirin/NOWDimitroff works on a painting in the newly open Graffia Gallery, 215 W. Savidge in Spring Lake.
Many of the paintings are accompanied by written explanations of the styles and techniques she uses. "I want to help the viewer better understand what it is they are seeing," Dimitroff said, referring to such descriptions as encaustic, casein and egg tempura, some of the mediums she chose for her paintings. Works range in price from $75 to $3,000.
For her artist's statement, Dimitroff wrote, "Places that lead to other places, to new life, new mysteries. Forms bursting with color, surrounded. Directions, line pointing, inviting. To a place real but with new form, fresh color; to a new place that invites the viewer to look closer..."
She describes her artistic style as something that has evolved from realism to abstract expressionism. "For me, as I got older, things went from being very clear, to not so clear," she said. "There is a lot of mystery in life. I paint now in what I call simple abstraction. I simplify that life is just what it is, something you're not going to figure out."
Her paintings are bold and strong, painted in bright colors. "They emphasize simplicity and are more 'in your face.'"
Dimitroff, 57, is a native of Detroit. She and her fiance moved to the lakeshore in 2007. "It's a takeoff on the Italian word, hypergraphia, which loosely means an obsession with writing or anything on paper," Dimitroff said of her choice of the name, Graffia, for the studio. "I took that word and turned it into the word graffiti with a twist." The name makes even more sense after learning that Dimitroff's previous professional career was as a freelance writer and reporter.
The gallery owner received a bachelor's degree in journalism and creative writing and a master's degree in painting, both from Detroit's Wayne State University. Her work has appeared in many shows, most of which were on the east side of the state and include the Michigan Institute of Art (MIA) in Detroit and the Circle Gallery in Midland.
The artist has also taught painting and drawing at the Paint Creek Center for the Arts in Rochester, Utica Community Schools and performs private tutoring.
Beginning in September, Dimitroff will offer two-hour, four-week adult beginner classes in drawing and painting for classes up to the size of four in her downstairs teaching studio.
Upcoming plans for the gallery include an exhibit that will feature local, west Michigan artists in July. Other exhibits in the works will highlight landscapes, figurative paintings and sculpture as space allows. Dimitroff also hopes to eventually offer artists talks and receptions and have a printing press and framing studio.
"The goal of my Graffia Gallery is simple," Dimitroff said. "To showcase artists and help educate people about art."
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