Rise Above the Clouds .....

Emma Goodman O'Rourke

Emma Goodman O'Rourke opens my eyes to the width of nature.  O’Rourke’s personal use of imagery makes for her vision.  In a poem you take words and through placement and juxtaposition you create art.  In O’Rourke it’s done through putting lotus petals with peonies in a landscape that perhaps has nothing to do with either, but in throwing off the context she comes up with something totally fresh.

Words themselves play a role in O'Rourke's painting.  She dares to write into her work what we all wish: "Love me forever."  And it renews the eye and the heart and the spirit.  O'Rourke's use of the paint itself retains the freshness of its making.

Sometimes she will put the nude into her painting or a skull.  It can dare us to look differently.  We will always be challenged and thrilled by the art of Emma Goodman O'Rourke.

Marsha Ralls