Remains to be Seen
Raymond Papka
Artist Statement: My background of importance to my art is growing up in small town Thermopolis, WY, undergraduate studies in Zoology and Chemistry, graduate studies in Anatomy and Neuroscience, and a long career as a research scientist. I am a self-taught artist, however, I had abundant experience in photography, composition, printing etc. as part of my research; and woodworking as a life-long hobby.
From my early childhood I have been fascinated with the usual everyday interesting objects as well as unusual objects. I especially liked old, dusty, rusty faded objects because they had age that reminded me of history. Moreover, objects are to be used, but come back and have a second life and can be remolded or remade into new things – another way of recycling. I am attracted to found objects that look as though they have once come from something interesting, belonged to a mysterious family, or that look valuable, but may have had little or no importance to others such as old forks, buttons, old letters and metal remnants. During my youth I had many odd collections of little treasures of small objects, coins, arrowheads, old rusty items, and fascinating “things” in little boxes and cloth bags.
My art is mixed media and combines assemblage, encaustic painting, the use of wood panels, wood boxes, clock cases and old drawers as substrates, and found objects as relevant embellishments. The beeswax of encaustic painting allows me to generate layers of information in my artwork, but keep it mysterious....almost dreamy and historical. I employ found objects to embellish a piece that is reinvented as a retrospective, pleasant and, sometimes, functional piece of art. My art takes many forms, but keeps a theme of changes, of layers, of old, of memories, of looking back and of reutilization. The artwork I produce ranges from subtle or mysterious to bold and brash.
My work is continually evolving and is inspired by issues in biology, influence of science in my life, and the major players in the history of science and religion. I utilize the interrelations between math, science, music, philosophy and practical applications in technology.
Artist Bio: Raymond was born in Thermopolis, Wyoming. Having grown up in a rural remote small town his early childhood found him spending time in the local library where he developed a fascination with history, geography, travel and science. He also became attracted to various small objects that were often discarded and “found” by the eye of an object admirer; such as old utensils, buttons, coins, arrowheads and rusty metal remnants.
Raymond is a self-taught artist, although he had abundant experience in photography, composition, printing etc. as part of his research, and woodworking as a life-long hobby. Prior to his retirement from academics he began to experiment with encaustic painting (beeswax +resin) and assemblage using boxes and wood panels as substrates coupled with found objects to tell stories with his art. Raymond has won numerous prizes at art festivals across many states and has had exhibitions in libraries, museums, and art centers. His work has been exhibited in galleries from California to Tennessee and locally in Kentucky. Raymond lives on a small farm near Versailles and Midway, KY where he has studios in his home and a woodworking shop in his barn.
From my early childhood I have been fascinated with the usual everyday interesting objects as well as unusual objects. I especially liked old, dusty, rusty faded objects because they had age that reminded me of history. Moreover, objects are to be used, but come back and have a second life and can be remolded or remade into new things – another way of recycling. I am attracted to found objects that look as though they have once come from something interesting, belonged to a mysterious family, or that look valuable, but may have had little or no importance to others such as old forks, buttons, old letters and metal remnants. During my youth I had many odd collections of little treasures of small objects, coins, arrowheads, old rusty items, and fascinating “things” in little boxes and cloth bags.
My art is mixed media and combines assemblage, encaustic painting, the use of wood panels, wood boxes, clock cases and old drawers as substrates, and found objects as relevant embellishments. The beeswax of encaustic painting allows me to generate layers of information in my artwork, but keep it mysterious....almost dreamy and historical. I employ found objects to embellish a piece that is reinvented as a retrospective, pleasant and, sometimes, functional piece of art. My art takes many forms, but keeps a theme of changes, of layers, of old, of memories, of looking back and of reutilization. The artwork I produce ranges from subtle or mysterious to bold and brash.
My work is continually evolving and is inspired by issues in biology, influence of science in my life, and the major players in the history of science and religion. I utilize the interrelations between math, science, music, philosophy and practical applications in technology.
Artist Bio: Raymond was born in Thermopolis, Wyoming. Having grown up in a rural remote small town his early childhood found him spending time in the local library where he developed a fascination with history, geography, travel and science. He also became attracted to various small objects that were often discarded and “found” by the eye of an object admirer; such as old utensils, buttons, coins, arrowheads and rusty metal remnants.
Raymond is a self-taught artist, although he had abundant experience in photography, composition, printing etc. as part of his research, and woodworking as a life-long hobby. Prior to his retirement from academics he began to experiment with encaustic painting (beeswax +resin) and assemblage using boxes and wood panels as substrates coupled with found objects to tell stories with his art. Raymond has won numerous prizes at art festivals across many states and has had exhibitions in libraries, museums, and art centers. His work has been exhibited in galleries from California to Tennessee and locally in Kentucky. Raymond lives on a small farm near Versailles and Midway, KY where he has studios in his home and a woodworking shop in his barn.
Public Gallery Hours
Wednesday 12pm-5pm
Thursday 12pm-5pm Friday 12pm-5pm Saturday 12pm - 5pm Viewings also available by appointment |
The Loudoun House
209 Castlewood Dr. Lexington, Ky. 40505 Email: [email protected]
Phone 859-254-7024 |
All Lexington Art League programs are made possible through the generous support of LexArts.
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The Kentucky Arts Council, a state arts agency, provides operating support to the Lexington Art League with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support provided by Lexington Parks & Recreation.
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A yearly online giving challenge from the Bluegrass Community Foundation.
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