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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 9, 2017)
4 // COASTWEEKEND.COM Visual arts, literature, theater, music & more ‘I’ll be an art student all my life’ ASTORIA ARTIST RENEE ROWE PURSUES THE ADVENTURE OF ART MAKING By DWIGHT CASWELL “When we moved to Asto- ria in 2015, I promised myself to paint full time,” Renee Rowe says. “I have painted al- most every day for about two years so far. I have a lot of growing to do in my art, and, being older, I didn’t want to look back on my life and say, ‘I managed galleries and sold other artists’ work.’” That’s what she had been doing in Colorado, the most recent stop in a long and eventful occupational trip before arriving in Astoria. Rowe’s fi rst stop was at Rutgers University where she took her fi rst art class, despite having no background in art. Her instructor was pop artist Roy Lichtenstein. “Going to college blew my mind,” she says, “and opened a whole new world to me.” That world included becoming a social worker (“with a case load of jazz musicians”) and later a computer consultant to major corporations. She didn’t like the corporate world though and decided to move on. She worked in art galleries, eventually owning one, and took a detour into designing aquaponic systems. All the time she was making art in her spare time, and when she fi nally decided to follow her heart by painting, she began looking for a new place to do it. She and her husband, James, checked out the Northwest to be closer to her grandkids and to the water. Portland was “too big, busy and expensive,” but spending one day in Astoria convinced them to make the town their home. Rowe believes that our “ SUBMITTED PHOTO “View of Astoria II” by Renee Rowe. PHOTO BY DWIGHT CASWELL Renee Rowe poses for a portrait at Grace Episcopal Church in Astoria, where she recently showed her paintings. SUBMITTED PHOTO society, “is in a period of change. We want a break- through, not just to tear down but to build up. I’d like in a small way to give something back, to use my art for good.” That might include teach- ing, or opening a gallery, or simply continuing to paint. Rowe seems open to almost anything, but whatever she does she will continue to paint. “I’ll be an art student all my life,” she says. “I’ve been in love with art all my life, but that doesn’t necessarily make me a great artist. However, when I’m in the zone, it’s like heaven. There’s no stress. We’re spiritual creatures, and I feel a kind of oneness with everything. It’s euphoric.” Today, Rowe continues to paint in her garage studio in Astoria. She’s had a show of her work at Grace Epis- copal Church and exhibits her paintings at Fairweather House & Gallery in Seaside. “I’m learning how to look at light and shadow in a new way. I’m learning to see light differently,” she says. “It’s an adventure. Landscapes, cityscapes, abstract works, it all interests me, and we’ll see what happens.” How to characterize Rowe’s work? She is known for both her Northwest land- scapes and her abstract paint- ings. Of her landscapes she says, “I am totally enchanted and cannot imagine ever tiring of attempting to capture the majesty of this wondrous place. I hope to encourage the viewer to appreciate our envi- ronment and help to save it.” Of her abstract works she says that she never knows what’s going to happen: “It’s very freeing, like playing a game. Recently, the works have several elements that include a movement of light fi elds, boxes and color transitions.” “If you call me any- thing,” Rowe says, “call me an impressionist or abstract painter.” She doesn’t con- sider the label important: “I don’t necessarily want to be famous, and I was never really interested in the money. That’s not the reason I paint. I want to please myself and at the same time inspire people and lift their spirits.” As for the future, Rowe may decide to open a new gal- lery in Astoria. “In a gallery I like people to feel welcome and to enjoy themselves, and if you like a painting and it would please you to see it ev- ery day, you should have it.” If she does return to the gallery business, though, it will not be to the exclusion of making art. “That’s where I would have my studio,” she says, “and whether it’s through my work or the work of others, I would like to make a contribution to the art world.” “Ilwaco Port” by Renee Rowe. SUBMITTED PHOTO “Ocean View” by Renee Rowe. SUBMITTED PHOTO “Contra Punto” by Renee Rowe.
