Editor’s Note: The Artist Corner focuses on an artist whose work is currently part of an exhibition. The feature runs the first and third Friday of each month.
Staci Swider grew up around patterns.
“My grandmother worked in a factory that made children’s clothing,” said Swider, whose pattern-inspired art will be on display at the Sacred Heart Cultural Center through April 24.
Her grandmother always had “a giant stack of fabric around,” and she taught a young Swider to sew. Inspired by the patterns, Swider went into designing fabrics early in her career.
Swider’s art has taken different forms over the years, but texture and design always played a role in it. During the pandemic, patterns have emerged even more in her work, she said.
An example of that is a painting with layers of patterns. It has a plate with a pattern inspired by Mexico, a tablecloth with hints of France and a patterned wallpaper.
Swider stayed in her studio for much of 2020, and she used that time to revamp her business model as her income came to a halt. With no in-person workshops to teach and no in-person shows, she received a grant and reworked her website. She added applications that would allow people to see what her paintings would look like on their walls. She said it was a game changer.
At the start of 2021, Swider engaged in an artist challenge to paint 31 paintings in 31 days.
She wanted to see what subtle changes would take place during that period of time.
“I did 31 cradled panels,” she said.
Each painting was done on a 10-inch by 10-inch canvas.
Some of those works will be part of the Sacred Heart event.
To see other work, visit her website staciswider.com.
Swider’s exhibit at Sacred Heart will be in tandem with Elizabeth Moretz-Britt. It opened March 4. A reception is scheduled for 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., April 22 in the building’s great hall.
Other art exhibitions around the area include Alex Foltz: An Exhibition of Landscape and Portrait Paintings in Oil, which opens with a reception from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 12 at 600 Broad.
A reception for Patrick Krohn’s “More Eclectic Musings of a One-Eyed Dog” will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. March 14 at 4P Studios on Roberts Road.
Krohn is a photographer whose work focuses on nature.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
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