In Person: Artist's Opening for Ellen Schiffman

Ellen Schiffman describes the works in her show, "Embrace the Journey," as coming from a rich period of creative growth. She says:"These past pandemic years have been challenging for all of us as we have had to adjust our lives in many unexpected, and sometimes tragic ways. Like everyone I had moments of loneliness, fear, confusion, anger, loss--and even illness as the virus found me despite of all my precautions. As my busy calendar emptied of all prior commitments, I found there was one thing I rarely had  - which was time.  I used this time to explore instruction from online and print sources about how to work with new art materials and techniques to create art books, woven paper, EcoPrints and Cyanotypes. I also started to paint."

Ellen Schiffman has been a professional artist for almost 30 years, exhibiting her work in shows, galleries and museums nationwide. As a self-taught artist she is passionately committed to experimentation and exploration in creating her work. Her artwork reflects a fascination with texture, pattern, color and sculptural forms. Fiber and fiber art techniques have been at the core of what she creates. However, beyond fiber, she works with a wide range of media and considers herself a multi-media artist. Her inspiration is drawn from across cultures and time, with  imagery also influenced by nature. Her work embodies fragility as well as the possibility of change, growth, and resilience.