Spotlight on Local Artists: The Talent Behind ‘Elemental’

By Korie Ellis - St. Pierre

In this spotlight, we delve into the captivating group exhibition “Elemental: energy flow of life” featuring local artists Christine Maiato FitzGerald and Chris Page.

Curated by Tammi J. Meehan, this exhibit is on view at the Groundwork Gallery from September 3rd to October 17th.

Based in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Christine Maiato FitzGerald is a multidisciplinary artist working in Painting, Drawing, Collage, and Photography. Her art blends color, symmetry, contrast, and space, reflecting transformative experiences and deep appreciation for texture. Christine also offers interior design consulting, drawing on her past experience with Ethan Allen.

Chris Page is a contemporary artist based in Eastern Massachusetts, with deep roots in the Amherst–Northampton area. For over forty years, he has explored the dialogue between nature and painting, creating large-scale canvases influenced by Abstract Expressionism and Minimalism. His work bridges abstraction and landscape, reflecting his experiences of the natural world.

What materials do you work with?

FitzGerald: Acrylic and oil paints, acrylic paint pens, collage, (including papers and fabrics) mixed media, charcoal, pencil and powdered pigments.

Page: I primarily use acrylic paint, charcoal, graphite and occasionally pastel. My paintings are mostly on canvas, or watercolor paper, but often I will paint on top of photographic images. I have recently started using Yupo, a non-absorbent synthetic paper, for paintings and drawings which facilitates layering and the use of very watery paint without deforming the paper as it dries. My photographic work is usually printed on matte photo paper.

Tell us about your current body of work. What motivated it?

FitzGerald: My current body of work has been motivated by my continued transformational life events.

Page: The current work is based on investigating the Taunton River. This was motivated by an invitation to do an artist project for the exhibition ‘Take Me to the River’ at the Ignition Gallery in Fall River curated by Diana Arvanites. The complexity of the river’s currents and surface chaos especially caught my attention.

The other body of work I am engaged with is a similar investigation of water patterns and energies found in the waves and ocean around Gooseberry Island and Horseneck Beach.

Do you work full-time as an artist or do you wear other hats?

FitzGerald: I am a paralegal, as well as a yoga instructor.

Page: Currently I am able to be a full time artist.

How do you integrate art into your life and other responsibilities?

FitzGerald: I try to integrate art whenever possible into my life and other responsibilities…no exact formula.

Page: I usually do email and marketing in the morning, walk in nature and work in the studio and fulfill household responsibilities at the end of the day, then errands late in the day.

How has your art practice evolved over the years?

FitzGerald: I have had a working studio now for a few years and am able to experiment with various materials and methods. This is led to creating in different mediums, such as collage and up-cycled jewelry making. I go wherever my creative curiosities take me!

Page: The most significant change has been the move from seeing myself as “just” an abstract painter to an emphasis on my relationship to nature and landscape through a walking practice now integral to my art. This has expanded my work to include photography as well as a new approach to painting and drawing. This change began after a trip to the Artic which led to my work including overt landscape references.

What or who inspires you?

FitzGerald: I am inspired by my life-changing events, as well as my yoga and meditation practices.

Page: Nature, especially dynamic aspects such as running rivers and streams, sky, and ocean waves have been my strongest points of interest in the landscape. Art inspirations are abstract expressionism, the English conceptual walking artists, and Japanese art especially Zen based ink painting. My interest in Buddhist spirituality is complemented by the sacred writings and metaphysics of the Bahá’í Revelation. Music is important in my practice especially the minimalist composers Steve Reich, Phillip Glass and John Luther Adams.

Who are some of your favorite artists?

FitzGerald: Francesca Woodman, Lucien Freud, Guy Denning, Nicolas de stael, Kirsty Mitchell, Alex Katz, Frank Auerback.

Page: Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman, Brice Marden, Gerhard Richter, Pat Steir, Cy Twombly, Terry Winters, Monet’s large water lily paintings, walking artists Richard Long and Hamish Fulton and Japanese Zen painters Sesshū and Hakuin Ekaku.

How is community important to you as a practicing artist?

FitzGerald: The support, inspiration, connection and camaraderie is important to me.

Page: Community is both very important to me and unimportant. My individualist relationship to nature and my studio practice is in contrast to my love of building connections as part of a community.

The many open studio weekends on the South Coast are important to me as opportunities for dialog among artists and our broader community. I find they foster mutual support and a sharing of ideas about our deeper interests and purpose.

What is the biggest challenge you face as an artist?

FitzGerald: Always in need of more studio time, as well as the continued and constant ability to get noticed as an artist.

Painting entitled "Cycles" by Christine FitzGerald

Page: There are two very different challenges. The first is how to get my art to embody the deep and often elusive feelings, images, and ideas that I use as content. Second is how to market, exhibit and create commercial opportunities for my work.

What are your goals for the future?

FitzGerald: The ability to dedicate more time to my studio practice and to work full-time as an artist!

Page: My short term goal is to continue developing my work focused on Gooseberry and Horseneck beaches and the Taunton River. Since both series are based on experiencing the flow and powerful rhythms of water, they may become part of a larger artist project in the future.

To exhibit this evolving work, I would like to have a one person exhibition and gallery representation again soon.