JR Ringdahl Artist Statement and Biography
 

J.R. Ringdahl is a native New England artist born in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1957.  He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1980.  Since then he has created an amazing body of work that evolved from the twists and turns, highs and lows of this artist’s life.

Early in his career Ringdahl decided to avoid representational interpretations in his art and remained a purist with color and composition.  He felt abstraction had more to offer in moving beyond the boundaries of painting still lifes or landscapes.

During the 1980’s Ringdahl experimented with a vast number medium and styles.  He was driven to research the contemporary art scene.  He concentrated on the New York City art scene and the Boston Institute of Contemporary Art which at that time was under the directive influence of David Ross.

In the 1990’s Ringdahl focused on “ellipses”.  He concentrated on painting a series of this one shape to expand his natural creative energies which took him on an inward journey for years, simply to discover where that journey would take him in his art.  He wanted to push the notion of the “series” to its limits and find out what the results would be.

During the last several years Ringdahl directed his self interpretive art to act as a vehicle for the viewer to see beyond the “veil” of every day existence; to ignite a spark inside ourselves that defies logic. In an instant we know that we have peeked beyond the “veil”, felt and experienced that which can not be physically touched in fleeting moments.

Ringdahl’s recent paintings reflect his efforts in this endeavor by creating with multiple layers of oil paint and resin on canvas and wood.  This approach provides an ethereal quality by inducing the illusion of looking deep into a chasm, past layer upon layer that suddenly reveals something not earlier seen.
 
This process can take months for artwork to evolve until it reaches the stage whereby it draws the viewer in and reveals it’s initially hidden messages.  The reflective quality of the artwork brings the viewer and their surroundings into the artistic plane; making them part of the art! 

Ringdahl’s latest project was born through his desire to explore the concept of evolving or changing states of being through the medium of decomposing fruit that is petrified with a resin process.  Examining the fruits’ gradual altered states through the stages of decomposition induced the artist to ponder where everything goes when it changes from one state of being to another. 
Viscerally the art triggers a wide range of poignant responses.  The results are “thought provoking” and inspire “re-examination of our concepts” of the never ending evolution of physical matter and the existence and composition of essence.

In the course of his career Ringdahl has exhibited his art in New York City, Washington DC, throughout New England as well as internationally.

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