Local artist, Loretta Domaszewski, known for her nature inspired landscape paintings and murals highlighting the Gallatin Valley, is the Bozeman Public Library’s Exhibiting Artist in the Atrium Gallery for the months of May and June, 2011. The Exhibit and accompanying workshops will emphasize waterscapes in the Gallatin watershed.

“Poetic Water Reflections” an exhibit of oil paintings and Haiku Poems is the culmination of a partnership with the Greater Gallatin Watershed Council (GGWC). Ms. Domaszewski has been working with the GGWC to learn about the streams, lakes, rivers, and the extensive ditch system in the Gallatin watershed. Through these experiences and collaboration with GGWC and residents living and working in the Gallatin watershed, Loretta was inspired to paint a series of paintings highlighting the water resources and the influence of how residents play, view, and utilize the water resources. Loretta Domaszewski’s intention is also to provide a representation, through her art, to increase awareness of the GGWC and their mission to “promote conservation and enhancement of our water resources while supporting the traditions of community, agriculture and recreation.”

Loretta Domaszewski’s goal as an artist is to teach or create works of art and environments that may “enlighten the viewer, stop them in their tracks, touch one or more of their senses, take them somewhere else for a moment.” Her paintings in the exhibit highlighting the various aspects of waterscapes in the Gallatin watershed are a reflection of this goal. She is motivated by the fluid approach of movement in nature and how it is applied in multiple layers of rich transparent colors and textures, creating beautiful subtle transitions.  According to Julia Becker, Director/Professor at the University of Great Falls, “Loretta is able to work with the paint to actually create light. She has such a deep connection to the earth as a living body. They physicality of it, the shape and curves, the way light travels through water, the arc of a valley, the form and movement of the land, the patterns of a current. She speaks a universal language.”

To compliment the Poetic Water Reflections Exhibit, Loretta is offering a series of workshops and lectures for children and adults, in collaboration with GGWC. These workshops are sponsored by the Bozeman Public Library Foundation’s Artist- in- Residence Program, which will take place at the Bozeman Public Library, starting April 30th and continuing throughout the months of May and June, 2011.

The first two workshops, one for children and one for adults, is titled, “Water Runs Through It: Immerse Yourself in Water Patterns, Streams and Rivers.” Karin Boyd, GGWC Board of Director, and a Geomorphologist will provide information about river formation and moving water patterns in riverscapes. The information will be a catalyst for creating watercolor paintings inspired by water patterns and sounds. In this community workshop Loretta Domaszewski will instruct participants to creatively paint their own interpretation of running water. Each river panel will connect to other panels, as a continual horizontal mural, displayed at the Bozeman Public Library.

The second workshop will be a walking tour of the creek at Bogert Park and nearby locations with Greg Weiner, director of the Rivers and Trails Program from the National Park Service. The tour will cover information about the Bozeman Creek Enhancement Project.

The third workshop will highlight rain gardens in the Gallatin watershed. Sharlyn Izurieta, Coordinator for the GGWC, will collaborate with Loretta Domaszewski to provide the community with information about rain gardens and the variety of native plants used to improve water health in our local streams, rivers and lakes. Students will create expressive watercolor paintings of local rain gardens and native plants.

The public is invited to the opening reception, sponsored by the Library foundation, May 6th, 5:30pm to 7pm in the Atrium Gallery at the Bozeman Pubic Library, 626 E. Main Street, Bozeman. Loretta Domaszewski will highlight her oil painting process in the gallery and at the library creek, during the May and June exhibition. Each session will allow the public to explore the subject of moving water through the artists’ personal interpretation. For more details regarding the exhibition, workshops, lectures, and reception please visit LorettaFineArt.com, www.bozemanlibrary.org or to www.greatergallatin.org.

Original artwork, numbered prints and other items will be available for sale at the Bozeman Public Library. Loretta Domaszewski will be generously donating a percentage of all Poetic Water Reflections sales to the GGWC to help the local non-profit protect and enhance water resources in the Gallatin watershed.

Loretta Domaszewski is a graduate of Tufts University and the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts, and Brandeis University. She formerly taught at Bozeman High School, Nantucket Island School of Design and the Arts, and Beall Park Art Center. Loretta’s work has been exhibited in Boston, Nantucket, New York City, San Francisco, Connecticut, New Mexico and Montana. She is known locally for her nature inspired oil paintings, murals, and artist in residencies in Montana public schools. She teaches private weekly classes and workshops for children and adults at her Loretta Fine Art Studio in the Emerson Cultural Center, the summer HIKE. BIKE. ART. CAMP, at Bozeman Lodge and Hillcrest Assisted Senior Living Facilities, the Bozeman Cancer Support Community, and at REACH for the developmentally disabled community.

Sharlyn Izurieta has served as Greater Gallatin Watershed Council Watershed coordinator since February 2008. She can be contacted at info@greatergallatin.org.