Expressionist artist and colorist Janet Hennessey Dilenschneider chatted about her “ Come to the Light ” exhibition. How did the “Come to the Light” exhibition come about? The theme for the “Come to the Light” exhibition happened in a remarkable way. One early morning I passed a second floor window in our home and was struck by an incredible sunrise, almost spiritual.
I did not have a theme for the show yet, but I wanted to address all of the turmoil in the world giving many fear and unrest. Immediately I said, “This is the theme for the show – light brings hope, future well being, calm and solace. A beautiful sunlight comes up every day.
We then found a quote by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen and paraphrased it to read, “Come to the Light.” It “said” what the show would say to others.
The idea in hand, I talked to my closet advisors including MaryLou Pagano, Executive Director of the Sheen Center. They said, “you have just the right focus for our time in the world.” What has this exhibition taught you about yourself? I have discovered two things: First, color really “talks.
” The correct two colors together really are a “melody” or they as I say “sing” together. Second, there is a spirituality to the color blue. If you look at blue water at a distance or the sky on a clear, clear day, there “something” there.
Whatever it is it puts everything into perspective and is calming. Thus, I have painted distant misty waters and blue skies, and .