Artist Statement
As an artist, I am often aesthetically inspired by the day-to-day world in which I live. I find uncommon beauty in the most ordinary subjects. I spend much time reflecting in my garden, which happens to contain mostly cactus and succulents. After years of observing these hardy denizens of my yard, I found myself drawn to the mystery and primitive aspects of these plants. The first thing one notices is that they are both sensuous and threatening. Their translucent, water-filled paddles are accented with the fractal patterns of sharp needles surrounded by a highly pigmented areola, which provide a startling visual contrast. At the same time this contrast provides a metaphor for existence. Human survival on this planet depends on both the qualities of attraction and a means of defense to maintain the integrity of the individual. All this provides a challenge to paint and a subject for meditation.
Paula Wenzl Bellacera
Sacramento native Paula Wenzl Bellacera is a contemporary artist who is a painter and print maker. She works in oil, mixed media, and photography. Ms. Bellacera received her art and training at various colleges and universities in Northern California after completing a Ph.D. in experimental psychology at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Since 1990 she has been exhibiting her work domestically and internationally including in Chicago, Katmandu, San Francisco, and Seattle. She has won several awards and has been published in books and magazines. She has received public art grants and been commissioned to create collections of work. Her pieces are included in the collections of Embassy Suites, Oglivy Worldwide, Kaiser-Permanente, California Museum Resource Center, Hinsdale Hospital, First Midwest Bank, Elkay Manufacturers, Loyola University, University of California, Hewlett-Packard, and The Money Store.