Chrysanthi Fairchild-Werner
Artist Chrysanthi Fairchild-Werner: “Rip/Torn” – Collage
September 21 – October 30
Opening Reception: Thursday, September 24 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM
ARTIST STATEMENT:
I was originally drawn to collage because of the tactile quality of the creative experience. I have always liked working with my hands and making things. I was also drawn to the rich variety of colors available in printed materials. I spend a lot of time looking for specific shades and collecting my palette from many sources. I discovered that I especially like the quality of the torn edge. For me, it creates a white, shimmery substrate, causing a constant awareness of the physical surface. The hand of the maker is always visible to the viewer.
I also appreciate the sustainability of this medium, because I reuse old magazines for my material. I love the notion of transformations of something new from something else. I particularly enjoy using incongruity in my material choices. Looking closer, the viewer can experience little surprises : motorcycles in a flower bouquet or vegetables among the hills of a landscape. Collages allow me to engage the viewer on many levels: as a formal composition as well as the sum of tiny details.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Chrysanthi Fairchild Werner’s artistic involvement began early. While attending High School in Brooklyn, New York, she painted scenery for the class Sing theatrical for several years, created art for the literary magazine, and was elected Class Artist of her senior class of over 1200 students. She went on to attend Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, completing a five-year course in Architecture that included a foundation year in Art. During her twenty years in Brazil, Chrysanthi was a primary school teacher but was also able to teach fundamental art techniques as well as an Art History class to her students at the British School in Rio de Janeiro.
Completing her career as a classroom teacher at the United Nations School in New York City, Chrysanthi continued to teach her students about art by using art in Math presentations, Science Fair projects, as well as Humanities exhibitions. She enjoyed combining academic studies with artistic methodologies. In addition to collages, Chrysanthi has created artwork in batik by painting with wax. She has also recently returned from Crete where she attended the workshop with George Kordis on iconography. For more information about Chrysanthi and her work, visit her website at: chrysanthister.wixsite.com/website
Oliver Wolcott Library
160 South Street
Litchfield, CT 06759
2026-09-24
