Tor n

"These pieces deal with material and representation, form as well as meaning. The title 'torn' reflects the actual nature of the series physically, as well as what they can represent.

Physically, the works are rough, used even torn pieces of canvas that are then soaked in oil paint repeatedly, repaired by dyed thread, and arranged in groups.

The inspiration for this series came through a personal recovery process. The canvas may represent the surface level of skin, but the meaning can extend deeper to stand for the emotional and psychological fabric of the individual. Through life the fabric gets repeatedly tattered, torn, stepped on, permanently stained, scarred, and then repaired and toughened to face more. This is not necessarily a negative. There is beauty in this struggle and strength in the process. These pieces are beautiful even though the surfaces are tattered and torn, and they evoke strength in their struggle."

--dana lynn kleinman

Dana Kleinman is an up and coming artist living in New Mexico. She received her B.F.A. from Carnegie Mellon University in 1997 and was one of the first art majors to be awarded Phi Beta Kappa honors. She then completed her M.F.A. at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque in 2002.

Kleinman has exhibited in many galleries around the United States including Washington D.C., Pittsburgh, Colorado, Massachusetts, and New Mexico as well as Canada. Kleinman works abstractly in painting and printmaking, but has a solid background in representation and technique which spans numerous art mediums.

Her latest "Torn Series", is a radical departure from traditional painting techniques in which she incorporates raw canvas and mixed media. This work is just beginning to be shown in galleries nationwide in 2006.

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