Valerie Arber bio

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valerie arber

Born in Englewood, New Jersey, 1949
Studied at Leksand Folkhögskola, Leksand, Sweden (1969-1970); University of New Mexico, Albuquerque (B.F.A. drawing, 1973)
Lives and works in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Marfa, Texas

Necklace I, II and III are variations on a theme I’ve explored for about a decade. They are an offshoot of my Pearl Series, which referred in various literal and symbolic ways to a string of pearls that belonged to my mother. I continue to draw on this subject for the depth of connections that it embodies: the beautiful and miraculous forces of the natural world, and my place within it.

The prints range from the abstract but recognizable Necklace I to a more mysterious image in Necklace II which appears to glow with a pulsing, inner light.
Necklace III explodes the elements into a gyrating pattern of circles and dots, describing a phenomenon not unlike viewing light itself. The power of each image lies in the fact that it generates a vibrating, retinal sensation while remaining very still and contained.

Selected recent exhibitions
2005   Hebel-121, Basel, Switzerland; Dwight Hackett Projects, Santa Fe, New
            Mexico
2004   Eugene Binder Gallery, Marfa, Texas; Drawn IV, Barry Whistler Gallery,
            Dallas, Texas; sELECTIONs, Santa Fe Art Institute, Santa Fe; Collect,           Plan B, Santa Fe
2003   Marfa Book Company, Texas
2001   Invitational, Owings-Dewey Fine Art, Santa Fe
2000   Elements, Helix Gallery, Santa Fe; The Graham Collection, Albuquerque      Museum, New Mexico (catalogue); Paperworks, 5.1.6. Artspace,             Albuquerque, New Mexico

Selected public collections
Albright Knox Museum, Buffalo, New York
Albuquerque Museum, New Mexico
Hallmark Collection, Kansas City, Missouri
Corning Museum of Glass, New York