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30 Years Later, Artist Returns With Collaborative Works

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 14, 2008

TAMPA - North Carolina-based artist Marsha Hammel returns to her artistic roots with a show of her oil paintings at Hyde Park Fine Arts, running Thursday through May 31.

In 1978, she held her first and, until now, last show in the Bay area in a makeshift warehouse in Ybor City.

"I actually launched my professional career with that show," said Hammel, 58, an acclaimed oil painter.

She returned recently to Tampa and set up a winter studio here while working on a series of paintings with dancer Tai Bartova, who recently left Tampa for Los Angeles. The new works are among those in the Hyde Park exhibit "The Model as Muse," which reflects what can happen when an artist in one discipline joins forces with an artist of another discipline.

"The work that we did together was very collaborative," Hammel said.

"The expression of the model and the emotion of the idea were transferred through me, the painter, onto the canvas," she said. "The creative process can happen in a lot of different ways. This kind of emotional collaboration between the artist and the model can result in some very expressive paintings. "

Among the results is the piece "My Sister's Song."

"We originally came to it as one of the sisters is a bit melancholy and the other is trying to cheer her up by playing on her guitar," Hammel said. "Tai played both parts. Working with a model like this is a little like theater."

Hammel is known for her figurative paintings, particularly those of jazz musicians, an interest she developed during a 1978 stay in New Orleans.

"I am in awe of musicians' ability because I can't carry a tune," she said. "Plus, figures and musical instruments just kind of go together. And musicians are such showoffs, they make it easy."

The show will include paintings Hammel has never exhibited before.

"For many years, I have made paintings of rock 'n' roll figures, but nobody seemed interested in them," she said "I think it's finally time to show them. So I'm going to bring them, by golly, and we'll see what happens."

She also may slip in one or two abstracts, a style she is beginning to re-explore.

"When I was in art school, I was trying to work out some problems abstractly that had to do with composition and tone and texture rather than color, and I sort of hit a brick wall with it and got really frustrated," she said. "A teacher recommended I move away from this and come back at a later time."

Thirty years later, she has.

"Perhaps I needed some aggravation," Hammel said. "Abstract painting is very difficult. People may not realize that, but it's really hard because you have no pictorial reference. It's easier to mess up."

She's excited about her upcoming show.

"I feel like I'm coming home in a way. I hope to see a lot of people that I haven't seen in a long time."

Meet Hammel and see her work at the free reception from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the gallery, 1608 W. Snow Ave. in Hyde Park Village.

Call the gallery at (813) 251-4596 for information.

Paintings Paired With Stage Show

Award-winning South Tampa artist Kathy Durdin will show her new series of watercolor paintings at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's Shimberg Playhouse from Thursday through June 1.

The exhibit, "Childhood: Motion, Emotion and Discovery," is in conjunction with Stageworks' presentation of "Brighton Beach Memoirs."

The paintings capture the excitement, movement and exuberance of youth, with Durdin's colorful strokes giving them a freshness and ease.

The center is at 1010 N. MacInnes Place.

To see more of Durdin's works, go to www.kdurdin

.com.

High School Artists Expose Their Skills

Blake High School's senior portfolio students will showcase their talents in a show called "Exposure," running Friday through May 23 at the school's Gallery 501.

Seeking their master certification in the arts, the eight students work in a variety of media, including painting, drawing, sculpting, jewelry-making, photography and ceramics.

The free opening reception is from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the gallery, 1701 N. Boulevard.

For information, call gallery director Lori Ballard at (813) 598-3785.

Correspondent Esther Hammer can be reached at (813) 835-2108 or ehammer@tampatrib.com.

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