Meet the Members

Woman Reborn
Oil on Canvas
47"x63"

Nickie Azicri

In my paintings and sculptures exhibiting women's issues I am portraying the notion that women, in pursuance of their own liberation, are not against men but simply want an equal place in society. Working with this theme has led me to conceive paintings and sculptures dealing with the rebirth of women and the suffering involved along with their progression into a new life. The American Indian had no word for art and believed that a beautifully made object was a "prayer made visible." This is the way I view my art. Each work is a spiritual prayer about womanhood and for women, always transporting them to a higher level of existence.

In order to express these thematic ideas I have been concerned with developing symbolic motifs in a rather personal language within my artwork. I believe these symbols reflect a combination of first generation feminist art, along with second generation feminist art. The former meant to educate others, and portray female imagery and sexuality, along with a historical point of view concerning these issues as they tried to initiate social change. While the latter identified with many of the issues taken up by postmodernism, taking a more interdisciplinary approach combining political philosophy with psychological and literary viewpoints.

In my paintings the colors have been inspired by Fritz Scholder and Francis Bacon. Their bright colors help me convey my imaginary symbols, giving them greater emotional intimacy, and also help to portray torment and transformation. I often use thin, transparent layers along with a heavier, layered look, almost an impasto. Not only does this give depth to the painting, but layering my colors is also symbolic. It represents the different layers of women's lives, thoughts, and values expressed in art history. I also use subjective color relationships: that is, subjective, natural color as separate from form.

The use of a grid either drawn or segmenting shapes not only enhances the layers of colors by further adding multiple levels, but many times these grid systems symbolically imply the basis of social mobility restraint placed upon women historically and still today.

Ross Bleckner has been my influence in developing my multiple light sources. These light sources are also layered and intermingled with the layers of colors and grids to produce further layers of depth. They also symbolize rays of hope women have managed to gain in the past and in their present existence. Other aspects of my work include movement through the use of altered shapes and altered lines. They symbolize women moving on and moving up. As for my sculptural pieces, I use low fire clay, glazes, and slips. The sculptures are often not as bright since their main focus is on form. I work in an abstract but direct manner relying on symbolic imagery to speak for women in our society.