Three Artists to Exhibit Wax-Based Art at College Gallery

The Gallery at Penn College, on the third floor of Pennsylvania College of Technology?s Madigan Library, will host "ReMix: Wax and the Intuitive Process," from Nov. 7 to Dec. 10.

The exhibit features three Philadelphia artists David Foss, Michelle Marcuse and Antonio Puri whose work celebrates the continued use and relevance of wax as a contemporary visual-art medium.

An opening reception for the exhibit will take place Tuesday, Nov. 7, from 3:30 to 7 p.m., with a gallery talk scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Following the opening, gallery hours are Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 2 to 8 p.m.; and Wednesday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. All exhibits are free and open to the public.

"ReMix: Wax and the Intuitive Process" brings together the works of Foss, Marcuse and Puri, highlighting three different approaches to the use of wax by artists who come from very different cultural backgrounds.

Originally from the Midwest, Foss uses various types of synthetic molding wax as an additive element in his paintings to produce thick textures and layers of fluidity. He pours wax onto the canvas, where it mixes with other media such as acrylic paint, shellac, metallic paint and various chemicals. The result is lyrical paintings of rich hues that suggest various emotional tones.

Foss earned a master of fine arts degree in sculpture from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a bachelor's degree in philosophy/religious studies from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Marcuse, who grew up in South Africa, is highly regarded as both an encaustic wax painter and teacher. Drawing from her upbringing and travels, she uses the medium of encaustic to create lush paintings on wood panels. Using translucent layers and carving into the encaustic surface, she creates subtle, organic forms and shapes. Her recent works on paper either have been dipped in vats of wax, or the medium was poured or painted directly onto the page.

She has been educated at the Shenkar College of Fashion and Textile Technology, Tel Aviv, Israel; Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, South Africa; and Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia.

Puri was born and raised in the foothills of the Himalaya Mountains in northern India. He has lived and traveled extensively around the world and has gathered inspiration for his paintings from diverse cultural traditions. He uses wax as a resist element in his expansive mixed-media paintings by pouring liquefied wax onto the canvas, letting it set, covering the canvas with layers of acrylic washes, then removing the wax to create a negative space.

Puri earned a juris doctor degree from the University of Iowa College of Law. He became part of the Illinois State Bar as a corporate attorney and gave it up within five years to pursue art full time.

For more information about The Gallery at Penn College, call (570) 320-2445, send e-mail or visit online.