Steven Rhude - Finding Nova Scotia

Inverness County Centre for the Arts 
August 30th - September 29th, 2013 




                       http://www.invernessarts.ca/

"You can't know who you are until you know where you are." 
  - Wendell Barry


Inverness, Cape Breton

 Steven Rhude: Finding Nova Scotia. The exhibition explores Rhude’s development as an painter after his move to Fox Island, (near Canso) Nova Scotia in 1990.

 Rhude’s adopted province of Nova Scotia has inspired a number of unusual paintings by the artist over the last twenty three years. Featuring a hybrid space of objects and rural context, Rhude has consistently been creating engaging imagery with under currents of humor and irony, couched in the significance of place in contemporary society. Rhude is one of a small breed of social realists still practicing this form of expression in Nova Scotia.

 Situated within his regional landscape, think of falling boats, lobster buoys on roads, or burning lighthouses, and you will touch some of the vital components of Rhude’s art that have contributed to his contemporary vision of Nova Scotia.

Falling Boat, o/c, 54"x 16", Steven Rhude

Twenty paintings in all, the show focuses on Rhude’s progress as a social realist painter with in the context of rural depopulation and coastal communities. He doesn’t portray rural life compromised by big box stores and urbanization, but points to the icons of east coast communities easily commercialized, abandoned, or taken for granted. Objects with more than just utilitarian characteristics.

Road to Wedgeport, o/c, 20"x 24", Steven Rhude

There are also two early nudes from 1990 showing Rhude’s European influence. Rhude studied in Florence, Italy as a recipient of an Elizabeth Greenshields scholarship in 1982 with OCAD's off campus program. Also included are some portraits, including a large one of a Beekeeper suited up in white and holding a smoker.

The Beekeeper, o/c, 64"x 42", Steven Rhude

 Then following through to the more colourful works he is known for today. Exhibited for the first time, is a series of five oil  paintings titled “The Burning”, an expressionist depiction of a lighthouse on fire and collapsing to the ground.

The Burning - 4, o/p, 24"x 24", Steven Rhude

Accompanying the show is a full colour book on the work of Steven Rhude titled: A Place Called Away - Living and Painting in Nova Scotia.


Steven Rhude’s work is in numerous private, corporate, and public collections.

For further information on the show or artist, please contact: Caitlin at:  thirdmeadow@invernessarts.ca

Inverness Centre for the Arts
16080 Highway 19
PO Box 709
Inverness, Nova Scotia
B0E 1N0

Tel. 902. 258. 2533
http://www.invernessarts.ca/

or contact the artist directly: stevenrhude@ns.sympatico.ca

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