Tina Olsen: Artist Talk on Abstract Expressionism

Abstract Expressionism: What it means to me and and other painters. For the first hour three or four participants will work side by side on a large 5’x12’ canvas drawing, mixing colors, and painting free form — responding to what each other paints as they work. Planning is suspended as the forms and lines emerge intuitively. Work may be layered over. We will discuss ideas of meaning together as images and forms arise.

I will also share the evolution of 2 of my most important works, “Mother – Identity Erased.” I painted over an abstract painting by Betsy Macarthur of an abstract seated woman. I felt that I spoke for both her and myself as I blotted out her face and painted her as if she were part and the same as the white empty background space. As a mother I had struggled with a sense of loosing my identity and becoming lost in a background. The meaning for me remained unclear until I felt finished. As I looked at it I was jolted into the recognizing that painful time. The memory of feeling I had lost myself and my children enabled me to come to terms with that most painful and important time in my life.

“My Lady”; the meaning of this painting came to me much after it was finished. I painted directly from life and a live model – a young clerk from Brown and Roberts. I was taken with the beauty of her skin. I recognized that she was one of the few paintings I had ever done of a very peaceful person. I see that she is myself at a much later time of equanimity and presense after much turmoil.

The work of the artist in particular expressionism is personal, its meaning emerges from with in, it is spiritual work – the work of the soul to come to know itself. To look with equal acceptance upon the ugly and beautiful, the joy and the pain. To embrace it all as human without judgement. Like dreams it is available to us all. I invite you to try joining yourself with the paint and see where it takes you. Like me you see will that you have gone through times of struggle and times of peace like everyone else.

ELISIONS refers to Olsen’s increasingly bold abstract expressionism defined as much by what is left out as the explosive color and form that results as she pushes the limits of what is possible on canvas.

Over her 50 year painting career, Olsen keeps discovering: “Painting allows me to get into my body, to physically be with the paint and materials and let my body find the faces in the landscape, the landscape in faces. The process is a primal embrace of nature and feelings and the mystery of how they emerge on a static plane as forms and colors with a dynamism and life all  their own.” 

Olsen says she’s lately been heavily inspired by the writing and work of German expressionists pre World War II and quotes from these greats will appear throughout the gallery giving context to the work over space and time.

Olsen has been a defining presence at 118 Elliot Gallery as a mentor an instigator/curator of the well-received ‘Creative Relations’ shows in 2022 and 2023 where she led a community-wide effort to chart the current of creativity through families and significant others.

Olsen grew up in Springfield MA in a Mennonite family and moved to New York City to teach art at the progressive Walden School in 1965 where she married and had two daughters. Tina stayed in the city for 40 years where she was immersed in the creative energy of the 60’s cultural revolution. She worked as an art therapist at Staten Island Psychiatric Institute for 20 years before moving to Brattleboro in 2007 where she has deepened her dedication to her painting, meditation and making music. She also teaches a class on ‘Art as Meditation’ at the River Gallery School. 

Olsen will host an interactive artist talk with live participatory painting for the public exploring expressionism and abstraction on Sunday, November 24, from 4:00-6:00 at 118 Elliot.

From December 6 thru 31, she will be joined by her partner Schuyler Gould who will merge his light sculptures made with unusual found objects with her work to form a whole new show.

Other area painters are impressed with Olsen’s work. “Tina Olsen’s larger landscapes have a ruggedness in keeping with the New England environment much of her work represents. The building of shape and line, restricted perception of depth brings to mind Cézanne’s mountainsides. But we are not transported to Provence, rather we are invited inside her very unique Northern American landscape. We are allowed to accompany her struggle, pushing the horizontal plane of rock against the stark vertical line of a tree, working her surface until she gets it right,” Lauren Poster said.

Elisions can be seen at all events at 118 Elliot or by appointment. Call 917-860-5749.