2025 Exhibition: Rachel Singel

Rachel Singel: From Plants to Paper | Schneider Hall Galleries 

January 9-February 13, 2025 

Artist Statement: My work is a response to the intricacies and depth of natural forms. Lines are the building blocks of my imagery. The etching process in printmaking allows for a technical consideration of how these lines are distributed throughout the work, with the weight of each line relating directly to how much time it is kept in a saline solution. Lines develop into curves, from curves to circles, and then to fields. As each line extends outward, the form begins to resemble how it occurs in nature: preconditioned, though subject to the elements around it.

Beyond bringing attention to the immense complexity of the natural world, one of my primary goals as an artist is to raise environmental consciousness. I print on handmade papers made from recycled materials such as old cotton shirts and linen sheets, as well as plant fibers, especially those of invasive plants. Conceptually, the union of process and subject embodies an important metaphor for my views. I hope that making sheets by hand not only can help the environment, but also can promote sustainability. Fundamentally, my work is about discovering, then understanding, and finally expressing an attitude towards nature.

Image: Rachel Singel, Duck, Etching on hand-made paper, 23” x 29”