Orna Feinstein

Over the past nine years, Orna Feinstein has collected tens of thousands of art exhibition invitations and she has repurposed them to create her new installation, Papellibrium. Combining the cards on the floor of the gallery in swirling patterns that make powerful use of the different palettes on the cards-one side black text, the other, colorful image- Feinstein breathes new life into these humble materials. The organic, curving shapes Feinstein creates on the floor simultaneously reference a field of flowers and a cross section of vascular cambium that could be straight from a plant anatomy book. Feinstein leads viewers through the unorthodox installation and challenges notions of positive and negative space incorporating the gallery architecture itself into the work. Papellibrium calls to mind the concept of equilibrium in which all biological systems survive, co-exist, and function.

About the Artist

Orna Feinstein, based in Houston, Texas, specializes in 3D monoprints and other mixed media. Orna’s art begins with an observation of nature, and ends up in an abstract creation. The beauty of nature, its color, texture, and energy attract and inspire her work. In particular, Orna finds the tree trunk to be nature’s most intriguing object. When the trunk is sliced horizontally it reveals a repetitive and meditative pattern of rings. When sliced vertically, it reveals more complex and puzzling linear and circular patterns. Such duality is a great metaphor for Orna’s creative process. Monoprint, Orna’s favorite media, is a unique process in which one can use a combination of painting and printmaking techniques. It results in a one of a kind image and some effects that cannot be achieved in any other form of art.

Special thanks to all who donated the cards for this installation: Anya Tish Gallery, Houston Arts Alliance, the Museum of Geometric and Madi Art Dallas, the Printing Museum, John Cleary Gallery, Goldsberry Gallery, McMurtrey Gallery, Hooks Epstein Gallery, CamibaArt Gallery, Austin Contemporary, Williams Tower Gallery, Lawndale, and Women & Their Work.