Oils on glass exhibit at city hall art gallery ends Oct. 2

J. Susan Aitken

 J. Susan Aitken's oil paintings on glass will be showcased at the Westland City Hall in her exhibit, Fusion of Light & Color: A Stained Glass Inspiration, through Oct. 2.  Her entire collection of color infused stained glass paintings will be on display. Her work provides the illusion of stained glass on canvas, she said.

“During a wonderful journey I made with my children years ago, we experienced stained glass masterpieces in France and Italy that took my breath away. The light and the color were unforgettable,” Aitken said, prompting her current work.

Most of the exhibited paintings are inspired by Aitken's imagination or experiences rather than existing stained glass windows.  Instead of the reflective light of glass, there is a constant luminescent quality created through the painting technique which is not dependent on outside light. 

“One advantage to painting is that I have more freedom to weave 3-D images, creating narratives beyond the scope of glass,” Aitken said. Although many of the paintings in the collection reflect nature, storytelling and symbolism, others focus primarily on color, pattern and geometry.

 “There will also be several triptychs - a large one called Unwavering Love, which not only has spiritual significance but also symbolizes a mother's love for her children; a field of poppies called Field of Remembrance, which makes a bold statement of color; and Everlasting Peace, unique for its handmade hinged frame and harks back to medieval style,” Aitken said.

The Gallery at the Westland City Hall be open to the public from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The exhibit is free.

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