Vapor on Paper

March 3rd – April 14th 2023

Habitat Contemporary Gallery is pleased to present “Vapor on Paper”, featuring works by Rick Midler

About the Artist:

Rick Midler creates a unique aesthetic in his collage work by combining an eye for animation, attraction to evocative, multi-cultural patterns and a focused scissor technique inspired by Matisse and Japanese bonsai masters. Rooted in his meditation practice and sketchbook journaling, the work echoes Tibetan Buddhist Thangkas as well as Hieronymus Bosch.

Born in Northern New Jersey and currently living in Brooklyn, NY, Rick first exhibited his work in animation and film editing companies during his career as an Emmy Award Winning creative director for BBDO, NY. Rick’s exhibition credits include Mighty Tanaka (DUMBO), ArtPrize (Grand Rapids), Focus Paris at the Carrousel du Louvre and The Vanderbilt Republic in New York.

STATEMENT:

All humans seek to make sense of things.

The experience of seeing familiar objects in the clouds has had a magical influence on me for as long as I can recall. “Pareidolia” is the term given to our tendency to seek meaningful images in random patterns. This strange ability feeds the human compulsion to look for purpose within chaos. These collages are my way of reminding myself of moments that demanded nothing but acceptance. Cloudscapes, camouflaged within juxtaposed layers of decorative papers and patterns, represent the overlapping of our experiences and ideas. By practicing mindfulness, we can all hold the awareness of a moment without the need to make sense of it. Yet, we drift like vapor.

Exhibit on view from 03.03.23 to 04.18.23, with an opening reception Friday, 03.03.23 from 5-8 PM